About Bubbles Montessori
The objectives of Bubbles Montessori are:
- To create a welcoming atmosphere which promotes respect, appreciation and consideration for all children their families and staff.
- To ‘follow’ the child based on his/her own individual learning ability. Bubbles adopts the Montessori child based philosophy and observes the natural tendencies of each individual child.
- To ensure that each child reaches their full potential through our excellent and high quality accredited Montessori education. Accreditation has been awarded to Bubbles by AMI and IMEB.
- To provide opportunities for creativity, exploration and play in order to prepare the child for further education and life-long learning, based on all types of learning abilities.
- To provide each child with the best possible foundation for life and early education in a welcoming, inclusive and stimulating environment.
- To provide a varied daily menu which provides healthy and nutritious meals.
Staff and Awards
In each Classroom we have Qualified Montessori Teacher - Hetac level 7 and Hetac level 8. All other staff are fully qualified and trained Childcare professionals.
All staff are Garda Vetted.
All Staff have Child protection training, First Aid, Fire Safety and Manual Handling training with up to date certificates.
Bubbles Montessori staff engage in continuous professional development and upskilling in Montessori education and child development.
Bubbles Creche and Montessori are Reggio Inspired services. We worked with the Reggio International Advisor, with many staff both attending training and workshops in NUIG and this training continued in Bubbles.
Our Rooms
Montessori Room
We have two classrooms in which 40 children can be registered. In each classroom we have fully qualified and dedicated Montessori Teachers and assistants. We have a certified Montessori prepared Environment which has a full range of Materials for the ages of 3 to 6years consistent with IMEB Accreditation.
Children will be introduced with the areas of Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Language, Geography and Culture, Botany and Biology. The children also have opportunities to experience and carry out Science experiments, monthly themes (such as Space Exploration and The Life-cycle of a Butterfly), baking, arts and crafts and class outings (such as to the Fire Station and The Aquarium and Babaro International Childrens Festival)
The children also have access to a wide variety of puzzles, books, and games appropriate to their imagine creativity and development.
Bubbles staff provide daily opportunities and engage in activities to promote language, social, physical, intellectual and emotional development. The children in the Montessori room engage in a wide variety of child friendly activities including:
- Socio-dramatic play and drama
- Sensory play
- Messy play
- Baking
- Gardening
- Outdoor play
- Music
- Art and crafts
- Sports
- Stretch n Grow
- Outdoor trips
Outdoor Area
Bubbles Montessori has an enclosed play area designed to meet the developmental needs and requirements of the inquisitive Montessori child.It is a specially designed risk rich environment. Children are given daily opportunities to play outside in the play area, which is a safe secure environment with age appropriate play equipment.
Kitchen
One of our primary objectives in Bubbles Montessori is to provide the children with healthy and nutritious snacks and meals on a daily basis. Our meals are provided by an independent childcare catering company “Moon and Spoon”. Moon and Spoon provide a high standard of cooked meals with balanced delicious meals packed full of nutritious super foods to suit the needs of our children in Bubbles Montessori. The meals are devised with the input of a dietitian and nutritionist.
We try to provide for children with special dietary requirements.
Food and Drink
In Bubbles Montessori all food and drinks are included in our fees. We promote healthy eating and water is available to children throughout the day. Our Food is Healthy Varied , Nutritious and Tasty with sweets and treats kept to a minimum, available for parties and on special occasions.
Children have the option of Breakfast from 7.30 - 8.30am
Mid morning fresh fruit snack, 10.00 - 10.30am
Dinner from the varied selection of Moon & Spoon dinners from 11.45 - 12.30pm
Afternoon tea: 15.00 - 16.00 with good variety of healthy options all displayed on our menus.
We cater for children who have food allergies or sensitivities to certain foods.
Moon and Spoon are a unique catering service dedicated to providing nurseries with delicious dishes packed full of nutritious super foods.
Created by an experienced chef, the dishes pass the taste test every time. To ensure optimum nutritionis provided leading consultant dietitian, Gillian Killiner, advises Moon & Spoon on the nutritional composition of the meals.
Using a mix of fun names, aromas, textures and flavours, the dinners appeal specifically to children’s senses. Because the menu is entirely balanced, it helps children develop excellent dietary habits from a very early age. Best of all, the dishes are incredibly tasty so kids simply love tucking in!
We have a large variety of different dinners available to us providing the children with various dinners daily for a month.
Montessori Programme
The Montessori Programme runs from 9am to 12:30pm. During this time the children will be introduced to specifically designed Montessori materials which aid and compliment their natural innate tendencies to develop,learn imagine and create. We invite you to make an appointment with us to visit and learn more and to observe what happens!
What is Montessori?
The Montessori Method is an approach to educating children based upon the scientific observations of Dr Maria Montessori, an Italian child psychologist and educator.
Dr Montessori established a learning environment for young children, in which they were free to choose their own activity and direct their own learning. In response to her observations of these “free” children she adapted and designed materials for the environment in order to match their interests and needs. This method supported the children’s natural and inborn ability to teach themselves and nurtured the brain’s innate tendencies towards seeking optimal developmental opportunities.
Applying this method relies on the adult’s ability to observe, direct and support the child who is primed for perfect self-directed growth. The method requires that adults prepare a dynamic and child centred learning environment that meets the natural needs of the child. Within this environment the child has freedom to choose within limits and through this freedom concentration and self discipline will emerge.
Aistear in Bubbles Montessori
Aistear was developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Aistear has four overarching themes, Well-being, Identity & Belonging, Communicating and Exploring & Thinking, all of which are aimed at promoting skill development by learning through education and play in meaningful ways.
In Bubbles Montessori we implement the Aistear programme as set out by the N.C.C.A. to develop and enhance the children’s skills development through a range of stimulating play activities.
Aistear is implemented through the following activities in Bubbles Montessori;
- Socio-dramatic play
- Construction and small world play
- Junk art
- Messy play
- Crafts and writing
- Language development games
- Songs and music
N.C.C.A. has developed resources for parents to help children with the Aistear programme. You can read the tip sheets or watch and listen to a range of helpful videos and podcasts to understand the importance of Aistear for your child here.
Síolta
Síolta is the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education. Its purpose is designed to define, assess and support all aspects of Early Childhood Education.
Síolta enables the staff Bubbles Montessori to provide a high standard of childcare under its twelve principles. The Síolta principles are designed with each child’s individual needs as priority, while also developing their social, emotional, cognitive, intellectual and physical skills.
Parents are invited to read more about Síolta the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education online at this link
ECCE Scheme
Bubbles Montessori participates in the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme, which provides children with a subsidised pre-school education provided the child is the required age; i.e. 3yrs before 30th June for enrolment in Sept of that year. In Bubbles Montessori we operate the ECCE scheme from the beginning of Sept to the end of June the following year - a total of 10 months.
Please contact us at 091-510700 to register your child for the ECCE scheme.
