Our Philosophy
Building Confident, School-Ready Learners:
EYFS-Enhanced Montessori
At Snowflakes, we offer a unique educational approach that blends the UK's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework with Montessori principles.
Home > Our Philosophy
Our Combined EYFS-Enhanced Montessori Approach
Whether you're exploring our Montessori Advantages or Early Years Framework pages, you'll find our philosophy is a thoughtful combination designed to nurture your child's early years, fostering independence and security.
Our hybrid approach creates a supportive space where children explore at their own pace, fostering lifelong curiosity and resilience. We draw on the guidelines established by the AMI Montessori Society (UK).
We're committed to a balanced approach that honours each child's unique journey.
Blending Montessori Freedom with EYFS Structure
At its heart, our philosophy integrates the structure of the EYFS early childhood education framework with Montessori's focus on child-led discovery.
This means combining the seven areas of EYFS learning, such as personal, social, and emotional development, with Montessori's emphasis on practical life and independence.
This harmonious blend equips children with the safety and confidence to dive into their own interests, sparking authentic growth from day one.
Alignment to 2025 EYFS Guidelines
At Snowflakes, we deliver the EYFS structure through clear next steps, weekly planning, and progress tracking, while embracing Montessori freedom.
A balance of freedom and structure ensures that your child's learning journey is both guided and self-directed, providing a reassuring environment for their growth.
For more on the Montessori nuances of our approach, explore our Montessori Advantage page.
Our foundation ensures growth, aligned with GOV.UK's statutory EYFS updates, giving you confidence in the effectiveness of our program.
Tracking Your Child's Individual Progress
Weekly Observations and Next Steps
Formal tests have no place in the development of children before five. We believe in meaningful observations and in using individual plans to monitor growth against EYFS development goals. This includes tracking milestones in areas such as communication and physical development, providing parents with clear insights.
Regular updates keep you informed, ensuring no part of your child's development gets overlooked within our comprehensive framework.
For a full breakdown of the EYFS 7 areas of learning, check our EYFS Framework page.
How Children Benefit With Our Approach
Building Emotional Resiliance Through Mixed-Age Play
Our child-led learning approach, which is at the heart of our educational philosophy, helps your child build confidence through self-directed activities that spark genuine interest.
Studies show that this approach leads to the development of stronger cognitive and social skills, with improved reading and memory skills by the time they enter Reception.
Cognitive Gains Backed by Research
Child-led learning at Snowflakes ignites stronger cognitive and social skills, translating to enhanced reading and memory abilities that set children up for a thriving start to Reception.
This approach equips them with the tools to learn with a constant ease, which maintains excitement, giving parents the security that their child's development is in good hands.
Over the past few months my child has shown remarkable growth and development in both social and academic areas. He has become increasingly confident in exploring new activities and interacting socially. His independence has grown, as he now enjoys completing tasks on his own and takes pride in his accomplishments. The staff has been incredibly supportive, always approachable and open to providing regular feedback on his progress. Their dedication to his well-being and development is evident, and it's clear that my child feels safe and encouraged in the nurturing environment. I would highly recommend 'Snowflakes' as it is the best place for your child's growth and development.
Key advantages of our program include:
Enhanced independence: Through practising guided choices, children learn self-regulation, easing transitions when starting school.
Social and emotional growth: Mixed-age benefits in Montessori settings encourage empathy and collaboration.
Holistic development: Our structured Montessori curriculum fosters creativity and focus, cultivating well-rounded learners.
Dive deeper into these outcomes on our School Readiness page.
What Daily Life Looks Like At Snowflakes
A Typical Work Cycle in Action
Children's daily routines at Snowflakes are filled with purposeful exploration. Children engage in practical life tasks like preparing snacks or gardening, all within a prepared environment that supports their freedom of choice while providing limits that guide their personal development.
Outdoor learning plays a vital role, connecting children to nature for sensory experiences. We minimise screen time to prioritise real-world interactions, aligning with EYFS curriculum requirements.
Fostering Self-Discipline Without Rigidity
We build genuine self-discipline by teaching children to understand cause and effect. Rather than using arbitrary rules or punishments, our teachers respectfully guide children to see the real-world impact of their choices.
Daily life adapts and develops as children grow. See it come alive on our room pages.
Common Questions About Our Philosphy
It's natural to have questions, like whether child-led learning might lack structure. Our integrated approach balances freedom with EYFS guidance to prevent that. For children with special educational needs, we offer tailored support through experienced staff.
Your child's early years set the stage for a bright future. Explore Admissions today—spots for January 2026 are opening soon!
Concerned about fit? Book a Tour to see it firsthand. Or download our Parent Guide for tips on extending this philosophy at home.
Is EYFS too structured for young children?
The framework provides structure for us, not restrictions for your child. They experience engaging activities and purposeful play - we're the ones ensuring those activities systematically develop all seven areas.
How does EYFS work with Montessori?
Montessori provides the materials and methods; EYFS ensures comprehensive coverage. When your child works with the pink tower (Montessori), they're developing spatial awareness and mathematical thinking (EYFS Mathematics) plus fine motor skills (EYFS Physical Development).
Will my child be tested constantly?
Assessment happens through observation during normal activities. Your child pouring water at the water table doesn't know we're assessing hand-eye coordination and understanding of volume - they're just enjoying water play with purpose.
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8 Higham Mews
NORTHOLT,
UB5 6FP
Phone:
02088458998
Regulatory Authority ID:
EY394004
Date Registered by
Regulatory Authority:
10 Sep 2009
100 Carlyle Avenue,
SOUTHALL,
UB1 2BL
Phone:
02085716378
Regulatory Authority ID:
EY393991
Date Registered by
Regulatory Authority:
02 Dec 2009
Comer Crescent,
SOUTHALL,
UB2 4XD
Phone:
02085716867
Regulatory Authority ID:
EY497465
Date Registered by
Regulatory Authority:
27 Sep 2016
St Mary's Church Hall,
Norwood Green Road,
SOUTHALL,
UB2 4LA
Phone:
02085073222
Regulatory Authority ID:
EY561899
Date Registered by
Regulatory Authority:
07 Aug 2018