Distance Learning Montessori Part 1 – Early Years Care and Education

Course description

Successful completion of the Montessori Teaching Stage 1 distance learning course qualifies learners as Montessori Teachers for the 3-6 year range who may seek employment for this role within the pre-school sector. By the end of Montessori Teaching Stage 1, learners will be able to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of both the local and national frameworks which guide the education and care provision of Early Years settings, specialising in Montessori Pedagogy and Curriculum for the 3-6 year old. Over one hundred years ago, Maria Montessori, the first female physician in Italy, devised a very different method of educating children, based on her observations of how they naturally learn. Today, Montessori education is more in line with what developmentalists now know about how children learn and develop.

To meet the needs of an expanding ECCE sector Portobello Institute aims to provide a solid, integrated, unified approach to the delivery of ECCE training. QQI Certificates are now obtained through a new Common Award System (CAS) and awarded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Our suite of Early years courses aims to develop in our Learners the highest level of professional competence as practitioners, establishing in them a wide knowledge and a deep understanding of educational practices in conjunction with the principles set down by Síolta: the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Aistear: the Framework for Early Learning. Learners can progress onto further studies following completion of Stage 1.

By choosing to study this course with Portobello Institute, students will have access to course materials from our online learning centre for the duration of the course. The course materials for this QQI certified course are thorough and easy to read and can be downloaded in your own time and from the comfort of your own home. You will also be assigned a personal tutor for the duration of the course who will help you with any challenges you may encounter. In addition you will be able to upload assignments online and receive online feedback. You can use our online learning centre from any computer that has internet access. However, access to a computer is not compulsory as we can arrange for everything to be processed by post. There is an additional administration cost of €30 for this service.

Qualifications Gained

Stage 1. QQI Minor Awards at Level 6

1. Early learning Environment – 15 credits
2. Early Childhood Literacy and Numeracy – 15 credits
3. Early Childhood Arts and Culture – 15 credits

Entry Requirements

Entry to this course is by direct application to the college. There are no previous academic requirements.

Course Structure

As this is a distance learning course students work at their own pace.  Each student has 18 months to complete this course. You are required to attend 6 weekend workshops (Sat and Sun) and 1 final skills demonstration day, these workshops take place in our Dublin Campus.  See a schedule of workshops here.

Course Delivery

• Online Learning Centre (requires internet access), or
• By Post (note that there is an admin fee of €30 for postal students)

Course Content Modules

1. Early Learning Environment
   – Montessori Philosophy, Practical Life Skills and Sensorial Education
2. Early Childhood Literacy and Numeracy
   – Montessori Language Development and Montessori Mathematics
3. Early Childhood Arts and Culture
   – Montessori Arts and Culture
4. Work Experience
   Over the duration of the course. Learners will spend 50 hours applying work skills to consolidate child development and learning in a Montessori school. This work experience is considered an integral part of the continuing learning process in which the Learner learns to apply the knowledge gained during the course.

Further Studies

Learners can progress onto Montessori Teaching Stage 2 to achieve the Level 6 major award for Early Years and Education

Please note Students can book individual modules separately. Please contact the college for details.