The Children’s House was established in 1996 by the Director, Lucy Talbot-Ponsonby. She is a fully qualified Nursery and Primary Montessori teacher, (birth to 11 years) and holds a degree in Early Years Studies. She has been teaching since 1985, in many different countries around the world, which includes the establishment of a Montessori Preschool in Tonga, South Pacific, and in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Both these schools were set up with funds raised on her initiative.
All teachers employed in the Children’s House Seychelles, follow a carefully monitored training program that follows that of the Montessori Centre International, London UK, but has been tailored to fit the diverse needs of the children and families in this setting.
General Information
- FOOD AND SNACK TIMES. The children’s health and diet are carefully monitored by the staff. Morning snacks consist of fresh local fruit and other snack options; cornflakes, crackers, yoghurt or bread sandwiches, provided and prepared at school. Parents are requested to send a bottle of water, fruit juice or milk for their child to drink with their snack. No snack boxes in school please.
Full-time children may order lunch, which is provided by an external caterer, which should be paid for in advance, at 25 rupees per meal (preschool) and 30 rupees (primary school). Meals are healthy with abundance of vegetables, no processed foods nor port and one vegetarian meal per week.
C. BIRTHDAYS. We have a special way of celebrating children’s birthdays at School, and if you would like to organize a celebration during school hours, we would prefer a healthy treat. No party bags please.
- TOYS. If children bring toys to school it often leads to disappointment and resentment. So please no toys. If children would like to share any particular object of interest, books and pictures, it would be welcomed and shared with the other children.
- HOLIDAYS. The School will generally follow the term and holiday dates of the Seychellois schools.
- PARENT WORKSHOPS. Parent Workshops will be held once per term, so that parents may have a clear understanding of what and how their children are being taught in the school. They cover specific aspects of the Montessori philosophy. Parents are encouraged to play an active role in their child’s education, and to be part of the school.
G. FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN’S HOUSE is a group of active parents who give their time to help organize fund raising activities, support the staff in many ways and generally provide a helping hand when they can. Any parents can be a member and offer their help. Meetings are generally held once per month.
H. PARENT – TEACHER MEETINGS. Each term parents will have the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress individually with the Director and teachers. If, at any other time parents would like to discuss anything with the Director, appointments can be made for after school hours. (12.00 noon) School reports will be given at the end of the year.
If parents feel that they have any skills or hobbies that they could share with the school and children, it would be most welcomed.
If your child is to be collected by someone other than yourself or spouse, please inform the staff.
- HEALTH . If your child has a fever, or any signs of contagious illness, kindly keep him at home until he is well. If your child develops signs of sickness at school, you will be contacted immediately, so that parents would be able to take him home to a quiet environment. In case of accidents, our first aid trained teachers will take care of your children, until medical advice can be sought, and parents informed. If children are found with head lice they will be asked to remain at home until they have been treated and the nits and lice gone. Children will not be allowed to school with antibiotics for the first four days of the course.
- Wildlife Club
Our Wildlife Club, ‘The Little Snapper Wildlife Club’ actively participates in National events and projects, to help raise the children’s awareness of the environment and nurture their inherent attachment to nature.
The school also put together their own Little Snapper Cookery Book on sale at the Duty Free Shop
- Community Projects. Each term the staff organize a variety of Community Projects, involving the children in activities outside school, making links with different organizations such as the School for the Exceptional Child, the President’s Village etc. Through the termly Craft Fair, children also learn how to raise money for those that are less fortunate than themselves; wheel chairs, book corners for the hospital, learning materials for a local child minder are some of the projects already covered.