The theory of Montessori teaching is that it gives children the intellectual, physical, social, emotional and spiritual freedom to learn within a structured environment, says Damian Wedge, course director of the Montessori school at Liberties College, Dublin.
"Montessori education provides children with a rich environment to allow them to learn at their own rate."
As a philosophy of education, the Montessori method is more than 100 years old and was first put into practice in Rome in 1907. It arrived here as early as the 1920s, says Wedge, and has taken a firm foothold in early-childhood education. "Montessori education is very well established here and is more familiar in Ireland than it would be in Britain."
While, most Montessori schools teach pre-school children, they should not be viewed as schools for "hot-housing" young prodigies, says Wedge.
"It's not about jump-starting kids," he says. "Nor is it a form of baby care. It's a type of primary education that's child-centred and tailored to children's individual needs."
The Montessori method does not just cater for pre-school children but can be used in the education of children right up through primary school.
The Liberties College offers two programmes for school-leavers, a two-year NCVA certificate in Montessori education (21/2 to 6year-olds) followed by a one-year diploma in Montessori education (for nine to 12-year-olds).
"Graduates from the two-year course typically find work in Montessori nursery schools, creches and special needs education," says Wedge. "With the follow-on course they can work in Montessori schools, private primaries and State primary schools as assistants or substitute teachers, and again in the area of special needs."
Wedge says Montessori education is particularly suited to special-needs children. "It doesn't restrict children and it is materials-based. Children are using beads and counters instead of books for maths and Montessori educators were using phonics nearly 100 years before it came into mainstream education."
The job offers fantastic opportunities for travel, says Wedge. "As an education method, it's second to none. Graduates can go anywhere in Europe with this qualification and are welcome all over the world."
Unlike primary school methods which change from country to country, Montessori has the same educational practice globally and is a very popular method of education in the US.
Jobs are also plentiful for home birds, says Bernadette Byrnes, director of St Nicholas Montessori College in Dun Laoghaire.
"It's a growing market. The whole area of education for the under sixes is up and coming and jobs are always available."
The area of Montessori education has always been quite unregulated. Different institutions are accredited by different bodies, which are either American or international. There is at present no Irish regulatory body, however, Byrnes says, but this is soon to change.
"The Irish Montessori Education Board was established by the Government's White Paper on education, which set out to regulate and improve standards in the field." This body, she says, aims to bring all Montessori schools under the same regulatory banner. Currently, Montessori nurseries come under the auspices of the area health board while Montessori primaries are monitored by the Department of Education.
"We want to arrive at a situation where Montessori schools are no longer set up in someone's garage, but will be given proper provision. We want more openness and the INTO is also promoting acceptance of Montessori teachers as primary educators."
Montessori teachers are generally not as well paid as State primary teachers but Byrnes hopes that regulation and standardisation of the area will help improve salaries.
"It is fairly badly paid and the levels vary enormously, but if all schools operate to the same high standards, the rates of pay should become more favourable."
