Junior Primary

The children of Junior Primary classes range in age between 3 and 6 years of age. They have an amazing ability to absorb knowledge from their surroundings, taking in their environment- the physical space, the language and the movement- with what Maria Montessori called the ‘absorbent mind’.

The ‘prepared environment’ for this age level provides ample opportunity to move, touch, manipulate, explore and discover and enables children to develop concentration and independence. Children learn from each other in this mixed-age classroom, benefiting from the role-modelling of older children while those older also benefit by reinforcing their knowledge when they help the younger children.

Children start in Junior Primary at Beehive as close to their third birthday as possible, as this is when they are most ready for the prepared environment of the classroom. Starting as soon as they turn three also allows for each child to be welcomed into their new learning environment individually by the teacher and classroom community rather than as a group at the beginning of a year or term.

For information on the Junior Primary Curriculum see here.