FAQs

The Recognition Committee of the ME UK Council oversees the Recognition of Authentic Montessori Practice process. The Committee is responsible for a trained team of experienced professional advisers who hold Montessori diplomas from the major recognised Montessori training providers. The professional advisers have experienced the ME UK School Accreditation (previous) or Recognition of Authentic Practice (current) process at first hand as either owners, head teachers, or lead classroom teachers, and have many years of experience working in Montessori education.

It is the professional advisers who carry out the process of verifying the evidence submitted by the setting, meeting with members of the setting staff and carrying out a virtual visit to verify the information submitted. They make a recommendation to the Recognition Committee as to whether the setting should be Recognised, because the criteria for Recognition have been met, or that it should still be ‘Aspiring’, because there are still some elements to change or put in place before Recognition can be granted. The final decision rests with the Recognition Committee.  

The setting registers for Recognition and is sent the application form, which, when completed, is a comprehensive self-study document. 

• The Self-Study application is submitted to ME UK. 
• The setting is then invoiced for the Recognition fee. 
• As soon as payment has been received the professional adviser makes contact with the setting to arrange a Zoom meeting. At this point more documentary evidence may be requested.
• Next comes the virtual visit by the professional adviser.
• Another Zoom meeting is held by the professional adviser with representatives from the setting to talk through the findings and the supporting evidence, together with the recommendation on Recognition that the professional adviser will make to the Recognition Committee.
• The Recognition Committee sends the final report and the decision on Recognition to the setting.

A certificate with the date of Recognition; a regulatory licence to use the Montessori Education UK logo; ongoing professional workshops organised by ME UK including termly Thoughtful Thursday Forums; inclusion as a Recognised Setting on the ME UK Recognised Settings list, which is found on the ME UK website; termly issues of Montessori Matters; support as needed when dealing with issues arising from dealings with parents, the general public, Ofsted, Social Services and other public bodies; a reduced rate to attend the ME UK national conferences.

Certification is awarded to a setting for a period of four years, which may be extended by three years following a successful ‘spot check’ virtual visit in the fourth year of Recognition.

Registration is free.

The accreditation fee at the current published rate, payable as soon as the Self-Study application form has been submitted.

Annual per capita fee per child on the roll for the subsequent years following Recognition, currently £9.00 per child (paid for by parents

The idea of quality assurance is uppermost in everyone’s mind. Therefore, it falls to us to ensure that Montessori is able to offer a common standard to parents, educators, local licensing bodies and other interested professionals in the field of early childhood education. Recognition sets you apart from and above non-Recognised Montessori settings and the process can also count towards your staff’s continuous professional development (CPD).

Yes, provided that you have a minimum of 8 children attending on a daily basis, 5 days a week.

As a home-educator, childminder or flexi-schooler, if you are running your setting in accordance with Montessori theory and practice you are eligible to apply to become Recognised, as long as your practice meets the Recognition Criteria. We are anxious to make links with the many teachers, Montessori nannies, mothers and childminders who look after children in the home environment so we can provide you with information, support and professional Recognition for your work.

Send your details to us using the registration form on the website.  You will then be able to progress through the stages of the Recognition process at your own pace.