Children’s House
The Children's House at International Montessori School Sotogrande is the environment for children aged 3 to 6. They work on practical life, sensorial material, literacy and hands-on mathematics in mixed-age groups, with Spanish and English every day and French from this stage. Hours run from 9:00 to 14:00 or 15:00, extendable to 17:00.
- 3 to 6 years
- 9:00 to 14:00 or 15:00
- Spanish, English and French
Key facts
- Ages: 3 to 6 years, in mixed-age groups.
- Hours
- Raíces 9:00-14:00
- Alas 9:00-15:00
- extendable to 16:00 or 17:00
- Breakfast Club available from 7:30.
- Snack included. Lunch included in the Alas timetable.
- Languages: immersion in Spanish and English, with French from this stage.
- Areas: practical life, sensorial, language and literacy, mathematics, culture and art, music and emotional education.
- Accredited by AMI and NEASC and authorised by the Junta de Andalucía.
What a day looks like
The morning opens with a long, uninterrupted work period. Each child chooses an activity from the shelves, takes it to a table or a mat, repeats it as often as they need and puts it back. That complete sequence, choose, work, tidy away, is what builds concentration.
The guide observes and presents new material when a child is ready, individually or in small groups. There is no single lesson for everyone: the plan belongs to each child.
The day also includes practical life (cutting fruit, laying the table, caring for plants), time outdoors, music and the first work in literacy and mathematics with hands-on material.
What your child works on
The prepared environment
The classroom is divided into clear areas (practical life, sensorial, language, mathematics and culture) and every material is visible and within reach. The materials are self-correcting: the material itself tells the child that the tower does not fit or that a piece is missing, so they do not depend on an adult to say right or wrong. Mixed ages do the rest: older children teach, younger ones learn by watching.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Children's House different from a conventional preschool classroom?
The work period is continuous and organised by the child, not by a bell. Materials are hands-on and self-correcting, groups span three ages, and the guide presents material individually rather than teaching one lesson to the whole class.
Will my child learn to read and write at this stage?
Yes. Between 3 and 6 a child goes through a sensitive period for language and the Montessori material follows it: sounds first, then sandpaper letters, the movable alphabet and writing, reading arrives as a consequence. Each child moves at their own pace.
When does French start?
French begins precisely in the Children's House, from the age of 3, alongside the daily Spanish and English immersion the child already has from the Nursery.
What are the Children's House hours?
Raíces runs from 9:00 to 14:00 and Alas from 9:00 to 15:00, extendable to 16:00 or 17:00. The snack is included in both bands and lunch is included in Alas. A Breakfast Club is also available from 7:30.
What is the transition like from the Nursery or from another school?
It is progressive and supported. Children coming from the Nursery already know the building, the team and the routines. For those arriving from elsewhere we plan a gradual start and close follow-up during the first weeks, with tutorials for the family.
Come and see the Children's House at work
Book a 30-minute visit and watch the work period live: it is the most honest way to know whether this environment fits your child.
