Frequently Asked Questions

Montessori kindergartens can differ in their teacher training, classroom arrangements, materials and daily programmes.

If you are exploring Montessori education for your child, it helps to ask how the method is put into practice.

At dMP, our approach includes mixed-age grouping, a prepared environment with Montessori materials, individual work at the child's own pace and a dedicated morning Montessori work period.

Our Head Teacher, Wendy Kong, holds an International Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy from Montessori Centre International (MCI). We put Montessori principles into practice through our daily classroom activities, alongside group lessons and other learning experiences.

We encourage parents to visit, ask questions and see whether our approach is a good fit for their child and family.

Children learn through exploration, repetition, movement, interaction and play. These are important parts of early childhood development.

Montessori education provides a prepared learning environment while allowing children meaningful freedom to explore activities at their own pace.

The classroom, carefully chosen materials and teacher's guidance help children build skills progressively. Children also learn through conversations, group activities, creative work and experiences beyond the classroom.

At dMP, we value both purposeful individual work and opportunities for children to learn and enjoy activities together.

Montessori education offers freedom within limits.

Children can choose from activities they have been introduced to and are ready to use. They may work at their own pace, repeat an activity or observe another child working.

At the same time, they learn to care for the materials, return them to their places and respect other children's work.

Our teachers help children understand these boundaries and guide them as they learn to make choices responsibly.

Repetition is a natural and valuable part of learning.

A child may repeat an activity because they are practising a movement, refining a skill or trying to understand something more fully.

Rather than rushing them towards something new, we observe their work and allow time for practice when appropriate.

As their understanding and confidence develop, they can move on to other activities with guidance from the teacher.

Dr Maria Montessori observed that young children go through periods when they are particularly interested in developing certain abilities.

These are known as sensitive periods. They may involve language, movement, order, the senses, small objects and social relationships.

A prepared Montessori environment provides opportunities for children to explore these areas through activities suited to their development (see Programmes).

For example, a child developing coordination may enjoy transferring objects or practising dressing skills, while a child showing an interest in letters may be ready to explore phonics materials.

By observing the children, teachers can introduce activities that meet their emerging interests and abilities.

In a mixed-age classroom, children at different stages of development learn alongside one another.

Younger children have opportunities to observe older classmates and discover activities they may be ready for in time. Older children can revisit familiar work, demonstrate what they know and develop consideration for others.

Children are not expected to complete the same activity simply because they are the same age. Instead, teachers introduce and guide work according to each child's readiness.

We value the sense of community this creates, where children can learn from one another while developing at their own pace.

Starting Primary One is a significant transition, and children develop the skills they need for it over time.

At dMP, we help children build foundations in language and mathematics while developing concentration, independence, coordination and the ability to take responsibility for their work.

Our Montessori Phonics and Mathematics programmes form part of this preparation. Group activities and classroom routines also give children opportunities to listen, communicate, participate and work alongside others.

Every child develops differently, and readiness involves more than academic skills alone. Our aim is to support each child as they grow and prepare for their next stage of learning.

We believe a visit is a helpful way to get to know our school.

You can see our classroom, learn more about our daily programme and speak with our teachers about your child's needs and interests.

Visits are by appointment so that we can give families time to learn about our approach and help them decide whether dMP is a suitable fit.

The name dMP comes from The Montessori Playroom. The lowercase ‘d’ is a creative expression of the word ‘the’, pronounced ‘thee’ for emphasis. It reflects our original aspiration to be one of the best Montessori kindergartens in Singapore.

Our logo is inspired by three three-dimensional shapes from the Montessori Geometric Solids: the sphere, cylinder and cone. These shapes are used in the Montessori classroom to help children explore and recognise forms through sight and touch. In our logo, the sphere and cylinder come together to form the letters ‘d’ and ‘p’, while the cone forms the letter ‘M’.

The colours in our logo reflect the values we strive to uphold at dMP:

• White – Simplicity: A clean background reflects the Montessori emphasis on clear, purposeful materials without unnecessary distractions.
• Black – Professionalism: We strive for professionalism in our teaching practice and the management of the school.
• Blue – Authenticity: We remain committed to authentic Montessori practice, with a mixed-age classroom, carefully prepared materials and daily interactions guided by Montessori principles.
• Orange – Spontaneity: We recognise and cherish children's natural spontaneity, nurturing their sense of awe and wonder about the world around them.

Together, the shapes and colours express our commitment to thoughtful Montessori education and our respect for each child's natural curiosity and development.

We encourage parents to contact us early to enquire about enrolment and plan ahead for their child's preschool journey.

Class placement is based on the age your child turns in the calendar year:

• Pre-Nursery (PN): Turns 3
• Nursery (N): Turns 4
• Kindergarten 1 (K1): Turns 5
• Kindergarten 2 (K2): Turns 6

Children may start PN from 2½ years of age, depending on the commencement date and available places. PN enrolment is for the cohort in the year the child turns 3.

Parents are invited to visit the kindergarten to learn about our programme and decide whether it is suitable for their child. Once the principal confirms a vacancy, a registration link will be sent via WhatsApp for you to complete the registration form.

You may request to have your child placed on our waiting list. No registration fee is payable while waiting for a confirmed place. We will contact you if a suitable place becomes available.

Existing students are given priority to continue into the next level. From August to September each year, we ask existing families to confirm their plans for the following year. Their responses help us determine the number of places available for new enrolments.

Children who join PN are given priority to continue into Nursery the following year. We will ask existing families to confirm their continuation plans from August to September each year.

Yes, we welcome early enquiries from families planning ahead. As places depend on the continuation of existing students, we can advise on vacancies once families have confirmed their plans for the following year.

See Enrolment and Waiting List for class placement by age and our current vacancies.