Montessori in bid for state funding (From Bournemouth Echo)

Montessori in bid for state funding

8:00am Thursday 26th August 2010 in

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PARENTS are being urged to speak up if they would be interested in a state-funded Montessori school in Bournemouth.

Ambitious plans have been submitted for Stillbrook Lodge, which will open as a fee-paying school in Bear Cross next month, to become the town’s first Free School.

The Free Schools initiative allows parents, teachers and local groups to apply for state funding for new schools.

And those behind the application are confident local people would welcome a Montessori school, where children are taught in mixed-age classes and are allowed to develop and work at their own pace. Children would receive tuition individually and in small groups.

They will find out if their application has been successful next week and, if so, will open as a “free” school in September 2011.

The school, based in the grounds of Butchers Coppice, Bear Cross, is currently registered by Ofsted for 25 fee-paying children between the ages of three and 11. But it hopes to provide 80 free places.

Husband-and-wife team Martin and Sophie Ray-Jones are behind the plans.

They told the Daily Echo: “We have striven to look for ways in which we can make this wonderful method of education accessible to as many children as possible.”

Mr Ray-Jones said the school currently offers financial help to some families but added: “We cannot award bursaries to everyone.

“We believe that many families from the Bournemouth area could benefit from a local state-funded Montessori school and we ask those families to get in touch.”

Parents can contact the school on 01202 566792 or visit the website stillbrooklodge.org.uk.