Elementary 1
Elementary 1 at International Montessori School Sotogrande is the first half of the Elementary years, for children aged 6 to 9. Children work with an individual work plan, research projects and cosmic education, in Spanish, English and French. Hours run from 9:00 to 16:00, extendable to 17:00, with snack, lunch and the afternoon programme included.
- 6 to 9 years
- 9:00 to 16:00
- Spanish, English and French
Key facts
- Ages: 6 to 9 years, the first half of the Elementary programme.
- School day: 9:00 to 16:00, extendable to 17:00.
- Snack, lunch and afternoon programme included.
- Breakfast Club from 7:30 to 9:00. Drop-off runs from 8:30 to 9:00 and the doors close at 9:10.
- Languages: Spanish, English and French, with Spanish and English immersion in the classroom.
- Mixed-age groups and an individual work plan agreed with the guide.
- Accredited by AMI and NEASC and authorised by the Junta de Andalucía.
What a day looks like
Between 6 and 9 a child wants to understand the world on their own terms. They ask big questions, start to think in the abstract and build their own sense of right and wrong. Elementary 1 is organised around that need.
Each child works to an individual plan agreed with their guide: they know what has to be finished during the week, attend the presentations that concern them and decide the order in which to work. The guide observes, introduces new material when the child is ready and supports without handing over the answer.
Cosmic education provides the thread: instead of isolated subjects, the child is given a story of the world that connects history, science and human progress, and researches from there.
What your child works on
How children are assessed
Assessment is continuous and practical, built so that children gain confidence in communicating what they know: presentations and public speaking, oral exams, interviews and written tests, shows and performances, real-world applications of what has been learned, and the guide's daily observation. Families receive weekly and termly reports, plus tutorials to review progress.
Frequently asked questions
How is Elementary 1 different from Elementary 2?
Elementary 1 groups children aged 6 to 9 and Elementary 2 those aged 9 to 12. Both share the same timetable, meals and afternoon programme. What changes is the child's stage of development and, with it, the depth of the projects and the autonomy expected in the work plan.
What are the hours and what do they include?
9:00 to 16:00, extendable to 17:00. Snack, lunch and the afternoon programme are included. A Breakfast Club runs from 7:30 to 9:00 for families who need an earlier start.
How does the individual work plan work?
The child agrees with their guide what has to be completed during the week in each area, attends the presentations that apply to them and organises the order and the pace themselves. They are responsible for finishing what was agreed, and the guide reviews progress with them.
Can a child join Elementary 1 from another school?
Yes. Each case is assessed with an interview and an observation day, to see how the child fits the group and what support they need at first. Many pupils join from conventional schools.
Which languages are used?
The classroom runs on Spanish and English immersion, with adults who speak each language naturally, and French is part of the programme. Spanish culture is also taught as its own area.
Come and see Elementary 1 at work
Book a 30-minute visit and watch the children working to their plan on an ordinary morning.
