Chives Montessori School

Day nursery

Chives Montessori School is set in the beautiful Suffolk countryside in the hamlet of Akenham. It was established by Carolyn McNeill over 25 years ago. The school provides a very personal, nurturing and supportive environment enabling each child to flourish at their own pace. The school is highly respected for the support and guidance it offers families and it has provided Montessori education to hundreds of children, many of whom have returned as students, teachers or indeed, enrolled their children ! 

Our main aim is simple- to encourage every child to develop confidence, independence and a love of learning. This is achieved through the quality of the staff. They are experienced, well qualified and have a passion for children. We provide a loving and caring environment suited to the individual child’s needs, both in our lovely classroom and outside in our wonderful garden and on the farm beyond. 

Our school motto ‘‘ad caritatem dignitatemque omnibus’, means kindness and respect to all. This underlies everything we do at Montessori and our approach to one another. We are a small school enabling us to focus on individual development and genuinely follow children’s interests as they progress. We have 3 classrooms and children move up only when they are developmentally and emotionally ready – not at a predetermined age.