Montessori teacher
Montessori teachers encourage children's natural curiosity and help them to learn by doing things for themselves and with other children.
- Starter salary£24,000 a year
- Experienced£34,000 a year
- Typical hours30 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a Montessori teacher, you could:
- plan activities based on Montessori principles
- prepare learning areas and resources
- encourage children to explore and learn at their own pace
- watch children and make notes on their progress and any issues
- make sure all children have equal chances to learn
- support and involve parents
- help children with dressing and feeding where needed
- follow safeguarding rules at all times
- attend staff meetings
- keep records and write reports
Working environment
You could work at a school or in a nursery.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- sensitivity and understanding
- active listening skills
- knowledge of Montessori teaching principles
- the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to understand people's reactions
- to be flexible and open to change
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a montessori teacher
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- working towards this role
University
You could do a degree in any subject and then complete a Montessori teaching diploma.
You could also study for a foundation degree or degree in Montessori early childhood studies or Montessori pedagogy. These would include theory and practical work-based placements.
University courses can be done full time or part time and usually take 2 to 3 years.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Work
You could train as a Montessori classroom assistant then move on to a teacher training course. You would need to study for a Montessori qualification with a recognised training provider.
You would normally need a good general standard of education, along with passes in English and maths.
Some employers may prefer you to have a level 3 qualification in early years to take you on as an assistant.
Volunteering
You'll find it useful to get as much work experience with children as possible. This will help you get a better understanding of the career, and you'll make contacts who may be able to help when you're looking for paid work.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
Career path and progression
If you're a teacher or early years practitioner in a state school, you could use Montessori methods to broaden your professional practice.
With experience, you could become a nursery manager, assistant headteacher or headteacher. You might also manage a group of nurseries or schools in an area, or train other Montessori teachers.
You may be able to set up your own school, or take on a franchise either in the UK or overseas.
Career tips
Many people come into Montessori teaching after moving from other careers.
A working week can vary from a few hours up to full time. Advertised pay rates may be listed as full-time equivalent (FTE). Actual pay will depend on the number of hours worked.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleTeaching assistant
- Job rolePlayworker
- Job roleNursery manager
- Job rolePrimary school teacher
- Job roleSpecial educational needs (SEN) teacher
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0