Find out more and watch a short film about our collaborative work to support families with babies, through an enriched Baby Start programme on the Montessori Global Education website…

Montessori Global Education is proud to be supporting from Home-Start West Somerset to enrich their child and family-focussed practice. Through dedicated tutor support and flexible blended learning programmes, community practitioners have undertaken both the Introduction to Montessori and Integrating Montessori Practice: Infant and Toddler Specialism courses.

West Somerset Home-Start is part of the wider Home-Start UK federation, which works with families in challenging times across the UK. In the past year, Home-Start West Somerset supported 412 families, and in 2021-22, Home-Start UK helped 56,000 children from 27,000 families – with support at community group sessions and within families’ own homes.

Montessori Global Education’s training enabled practitioners to understand and apply the Montessori pedagogy to their vital local work. The blended learning process gave them the time and space for guided reflection on to become family-focussed and responsive. Learner feedback was hugely positive, with practitioners giving tangible examples of the new child-led approach they are now able to take.

Karen Chetwynd, Chief Operating Officer at Montessori Global Education, reflects on the opportunity made available to the Home-Start West Somerset team:

We wanted to offer high-quality professional training that delivered an engaging, relevant and flexible learning experience for this team of experienced practitioners. The Montessori philosophy and values can be integrated into practitioners’ work across the sector. In this case, our training enabled the team to identify new ways to offer infants and toddlers choice and independence. This is evidenced in Home-Start West Somerset’s now-revised Baby-Start programme, which makes a positive difference for families during their earliest days with a new baby at home.

Montessori Global Education has awarded Home-Start West Somerset’s Baby-Start programme with STAR Endorsement status. Endorsement enables Baby-Start to publicly demonstrate that the programme is child and family-led, high quality, innovative, and tailored to its community. Through Endorsement, local families can trust that the programme is designed and delivered in a way which responds to their own unique needs.

Clare Pound, Manager at Home-Start West Somerset, shared her positive outlook for future work with Montessori Global Education:

It has been such a privilege for us to have been given this wonderful opportunity to learn, gaining an understanding and knowledge about Montessori and its principles. It has really inspired everyone in the team, and the Montessori approach works brilliantly in parallel with Home-Start’s own practice. We’re so excited about a future with Montessori – and especially the Baby-Start programme Endorsement, what an accolade! Now planning is in place for further child and family led schemes.

The post Congratulations on our successful STAR Re-Endorsement by Montessori Global Education first appeared on Home-Start West Somerset.

Well done and congratulations to all our graduates!

The post Baby-Start Graduates 2023! first appeared on Home-Start West Somerset.

To reserve your place please contact our office on 01643 707304 or email hayley@homestart-westsomerset.org.uk

Spaces are limited. Ages 0-12 months only. We look forward to seeing you there.

The post Baby-Start begins in February! first appeared on Home-Start West Somerset.

Wishing all our families, volunteers, trustees and all the West Somerset community, a happy and peaceful Christmas, stay safe everyone! we’ll be see you in 2021.

The post The Night Before Christmas first appeared on Home-Start West Somerset.

This week is World Nursery Rhyme Week so we thought we’d share these lovely twins enjoying a rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, they loved the balloon prop which just happened to be a star!! Singing and using nursery rhymes is a great way to engage and interact with your babies, they love to listen to your voice and it helps with their development.

The post Twinkle Twinkle first appeared on Home-Start West Somerset.

Our latest Baby-Start clip is all about firework pictures, with a little nursey rhyme thrown in for good measure. Unfortunately we won’t be getting all those lovely displays this year, but why not make your own firework picture instead.

The post Baby-Start Fireworks first appeared on Home-Start West Somerset.

Our latest Baby-Start clip is all about Halloween, Hayley and friends have even dressed up! There’s a great a story all about a witch and a cat, included are some ideas about what you could get up to this Halloween.

The post Baby-Start Halloween Special first appeared on Home-Start West Somerset.

Our latest video is here! It’s the perfect weather to try making an Autumn picture with your babies. Why not put your wellies and coats on and find some autumn leaves and twigs of your own, then warm up at home and make your very own picture.

The post Autumn Leaf Pictures first appeared on Home-Start West Somerset.

This week Hayley is making a treasure basket, a fun and exciting way to explore your babies senses whilst playing, singing and interacting with them! Why not try and make your own?

The post Treasure Baskets first appeared on Home-Start West Somerset.

In our latest Baby-Start video we’re off on a train ride your babies will love, listen to Hayley reading a story and discussing lots of ideas about why your little ones will like it and how else it can help.

The post Train Ride Story Time first appeared on Home-Start West Somerset.