Sunflowers Montessori School
Our Team.
We have a strong team at Sunflowers, dedicated to providing the best possible care for your child with a broad range of skills and interests, we are trained in occupational first aid and also in child protection.
I'm Mireille
Mireille Passchier
I have a higher diploma in Montessori
(2.5 to 12 years of age) from
St.Nicholas Montessori College Ireland,
I qualified in 1991 and have been working in childcare since, finally opening Sunflowers Montessori school in 1999. I obtained an honours degree in Early years from UEL in 2021.
I'm Jessica
Jessica Keller
I am a Primary School teacher and mother of two and joined the Sunflowers team in January 2023. I completed my degree in pedagogy in 2010.
I'm Natasha
Natasha Ryan
I am a mother of two and graduated in 2010 with an honours Degree in Early years. I joined the Sunflowers team in 2020.
I'm Lucie
Lucie Eishima Kastanidou
I am a mother of two and holds a QQI Level 7 in Leadership in Childcare since 2017 and a QQI Level 6 in Montessori and Children with Additional Needs. I joined the Sunflowers Team in 2022.
ECCE-Free pre-school year
The outdoor classroom
Sunflowers is participating in the The Early Childhood Care & Education Scheme (ECCE) which provides 3 free hours of Pre-school education per day to every child in Ireland aged from the age of 3 years until they go to primary school. Sunflowers is open for 3 hours per day, and should you wish to avail of the free place, the school hours are 9.30am to 12.30pm
Free- ECCE Year (3 hours per day, 5 days per week, Monday to Friday)
The school year runs in conjunction with the primary school year, we will close for mid-terms, Christmas, Easter and bank holidays. Holiday dates will be announced in the September newsletter each year.
Our Program.
Our program is designed for children of approximately two and a half years of age until they go to ‘big school’. Montessori schools like to have a 3 or 4 year age span in the classroom. In this setting, children learn to help each other, and in so doing, develop a sense of accomplishment and pride and at the same time, develop social skills. Sunflowers Montessori has 5 main curriculum areas; Practical life, sensorial, Language, mathematics and social/cultural/sciences.
Art, music and daily experiences with nature are also important parts of the Montessori environment.
The basic premises of the Montessori Method may be stated quite simply as follows;
Child’s right to dignity.
Teacher’s role as a guide.
Decision making
Self motivation.
Freedom of choice.
Consideration of others.
Order, beauty and cleanliness.
Positive reinforcement.