Comparing Preschool Philosophies;

Montessori

Philosophy

A very hands-on approach with focus on developmental learning as well as nature and creativity.
Teachers play a guiding role as opposed to a leading role in the classroom. Children are
encouraged to learn from their mistakes and correct themselves as opposed to being told so by
an authoritative figure. Children will also learn beyond academics in the form of practical life
skills lessons. Independent play is encouraged by teachers and child and thus, Montessori
teachers do not condone parent involvement during work time.

Whos it for?

Children who are more independent and inclined towards self-learning. The Montessori
environment is also very quiet and controlled as students will sit through a few hours (two to
three) of work/play at a time, so more rambunctious and energetic children may find that this
programme is not suitable for them. Parents who want to get involved in their childs education
may find that this programme is not for them either as their involvement is strongly discouraged
by teachers.

Forest School

Philosophy

A forest school can be described as a classroom without ceilings or walls, ie, completely
outdoors. Every activity is a lesson, from walking to the nature reserve (observation) to taking
snack breaks (discussions and reviewing). Students can expect a wholesome education without
any modern prompts. Not only that, trained teachers will formulate thematic lessons for the day
to engage the childrens attention.

Whos it for

Parents who want their children to put the smartphones/tablets down and spend more time
communing with nature. Children will learn to not rely on standard toys and instead make full
use of their surroundings in order to engage in play. Child development occurs through outdoor
activities designed to meet specific needs. In order to run a forest school, qualifying needs have
to be met with Level 4 being the highest qualification a forest school can achieve.

Waldorf

Philosophy

Waldorf schools (or Steiner approach) can be compared to play-based curriculums like
Montessori schools. Unlike Montessori schools, though, Waldorf schools have more teacher
involvement. A typical Waldorf classroom will be designed to resemble a cosy home and the
lesson is structured around daily routines intended to emphasise daily, weekly and monthly
cycles. The Waldorf approach also encourages the extensive application of imagination to play
thus, toys played with are designed to be as simple as possible and sourced from natural
materials.
Whos it for?

Children with an active imagination will definitely appreciate being sent to a Waldorf school. In a
world where children being occupied by a screen is the norm, the Waldorf approach will also
ease parents worries about their childs dependency on electronics in order to have fun. The
routine-based curriculum is also well-suited for children who enjoy a little order in their lives.

Bank Street

Philosophy

The Bank Street method takes on a learn by doing approach to child development. With this
method, the child is also in charge of the lessons, so to speak their current interest at the time
can result in a lesson plan based entirely around their interests. As a result, Bank Street teachers
are required to be observant at all times so as to create new lesson plans in accordance with the
childrens desires. Bank Street schools operate on mixed-age classrooms as well, and by doing
so, eliminate a sense of superiority or inferiority by age in the children as well as discouraging
competition amongst the students.

Whos it for?

Outspoken children who arent afraid to voice their opinions and would much rather learn by
completing a set of activities on their own. As children pave the way for the lesson plans, this
encourages students to be more expressive with their feelings and desires. In a way, this method
makes sure that no child is ignored and that every voice is heard. By way of learning by doing,
the Bank Street school is also suitable for children who insist on a more hands-on experience.

Reggio Emilia

Philosophy

Communication is key and this approach strives to encourage children to express themselves
through different forms (language, art, music). Adults play a secondary role to the acquisition of
knowledge. Children construct their own lesson plans and are driven by interests to learn more.
There is not so much of a hierarchy in the classroom each child is considered an equal
participant in group play. As the Reggio Emilia approach isnt a method, there is no set
curriculum on how to run a Reggio Emilia school, giving it that certain je ne sais quoi.

Whos it for

Children who know what they want to do. They dont necessarily have to have goals at that age,
but are able to express their interests in contributing to the daily lesson plan. Since
documentation is key to this approach, parents can follow up with the progress of their children
and are also encouraged to be more involved in their childs education. Similarly, children can
learn from their actions through the documentation of their progress.
KEMAS

Philosophy

Seen as a predecessor to PERMATAnegara, the KEMAS programme follows the National

Preschool Curriculum more closely than the other approaches. The curriculum is created based
around the Rukun Negara and seeks to develop a social, intellectual, physical, spiritual and
creative skills. Unlike PERMATAnegara, however, the KEMAS programme focuses on the children
only.

Whos it for?

The KEMAS programme was created to help provide child-care for low-income families in rural
areas or local communities. As such, the fees per month vary depending on the annual income of
each family. However, if a parent isnt too fussed over matching a preschool philosophy to their
childs character, undergoing the KEMAS programme is just as good.

PERMATAnegara

Philosophy

Based on the principle that every child is precious, the PERMATA programme is an education
series that serves to cater to the needs of each child. The PERMATAnegara sub-programme is for
children under 4 years old and seeks to nurture the child as a whole. PERMATAnegara curriculum
is designed to improve on the mental, physical and emotional makeup of a child by six key
learning areas. The aim of PERMATA is also to assist the local community by providing quality
integrated childcare for a fraction of the cost of private preschools.

Whos it for?

New families unsure of how to best approach their childs early education. The PERMATAnegara
programme mostly focuses on low-income families and offers everything a new family needs in
order to maintain a healthy and harmonious lifestyle. Besides a quality early-years education,
PERMATAnegara also provides an outreach programme, parenting courses, counselling and
healthcare services.