Southern Cross Montessori was founded in 2014 when we took over Torquay Montessori, we provide Montessori education through a Preschool / Kindergarten program for 3 and 4 year olds. Montessori education was started in 1909 by Maria Montessori and is a child focussed education method. The core philosophy of Montessori education is Help me to help myself meaning, a Montessori education prepares a child with the necessary skills to achieve their potential. Children learn at their own pace, in their own time. They learn their strengths and weaknesses and the skills to harness those qualities to achieve individual and group goals. Students to be valued as an individual and to be part of a community as early as the age of two. Montessori uses a child's sensitive periods to have maximum impact on learning. A Montessori classroom uses a multi-aged classroom model ranging in three year cycles. This allows the students to learn from each other, modelling behaviour and skills, showing younger children what is possible and being able to ask questions of themselves and their peers to achieve common goals. A Montessori environment is the Children's House. The children are taught skills in grace and courtesy and practical life. Through these skills they learn valuable life skills and respect for each other and the community. Montessori has been in Torquay for over 15 years and in Geelong for over 42 years,