Preeti Patel on Children’s Learning Environment

Preeti Patel is Head of Education for Montessori Centre International (MCI) – one of the UK’s leading providers of Montessori training. After fifteen years practice in a Montessori day-care nursery as Nursery Manager and an Early Years Educator, she took on the role of Academic Placement Tutor and is now Head of Education.

Preeti holds a BA (Hons) Degree, Montessori International Diploma and an Early Years Teacher Status.

In this first interview of two with Preeti Patel, we focus on the key aspects of the learning environment in an Early Years setting or home. Preeti starts with the role of the educator or practitioner and how this is more than just setting up the physical environment, but also includes co-constructing knowledge with the children.

We go on to discuss the key aspects of the environment in an Early Years setting and what makes this into a ‘learning environment’. Preeti explains how vertical grouping (having children of different ages in the same learning space) can help everyone learn and the power of peer learning.

Preeti also has some great advice on how we can view environments from a child’s perspective and how the outdoor space can be presented to the children as well. We finish by discussing how we can help parents and carers with their own home learning environment.

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