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Montessori Playgroup Classes in Amsterdam

HOW TO REGISTER
COURSE DATES
WAITLIST INFORMATION

Parent-toddler Montessori classes

Learn about Montessori at home

Toddlers love to explore our Montessori classroom carefully set up to meet their needs. Beautiful Montessori materials are available for the child’s whole development. Activities range from cutting and sewing, to food preparation activities, to baskets of language materials.

Our Montessori playgroup classes are held every morning, Monday to Friday. This is a parent-child class so you can learn alongside your child. They can also attend with a caregiver or grandparent.

NOTE: It’s a good idea to register as soon as possible as very few spaces come free in our classes and can be a wait of 1.5 years to 2 years.

Practical Information

Age: 16 months to 3 years

Class times: 9:30am – 11:30am (Monday to Friday)

Cost: €357,50 for 13 week course

 

* Doors open at 9:30am but you can arrive any time during the session

* There are 12-14 toddlers per group

* Once there is a space in a class for you, you will sign up for a specific day and attend on this day once a week for 2 hours.

* Each child is to be accompanied by one adult/carer. Twins or siblings may come with one adult/carer.

 

 

To register
Montessori toddler classroom

Course dates

Spring
Montessori shelf for toddlers

CURRENT COURSE

end March – July 2025

Monday 31 March 2025 – 4 July 2025 (13 weeks)

Closed: 28 April 2025 – 2 May 2025 (school holidays)

Please note that we will be open on public holidays like Good Friday (18 April), Easter Monday (21 April), Bevrijdingsdag (5 May), Hemelvaart (29 May), Pinkster (9 June)

Autumn
Montessori setting the table

NEXT COURSE

August – November 2025

Monday 25 August – Friday 28 November (13 weeks)

closed: 20 – 24 October (school holidays)

To register

Please complete the online application form HERE to go on the waitlist for our classes. An email confirmation will be sent within 3 days of receipt.

SIGN ME UP FOR THE WAITLIST

When you are at the top of the waitlist, you will receive an email asking which days you are able to join. The more days that are possible, the better chance of finding a space for you.

Then you sign up to attend once a week with your child for a 2-hour session. The good news is then you get priority to sign up for the following course as well. Most people continue with their child until they are 3 years old.

Thanks for your patience and look forward to you starting in our Montessori community.

Kind words from families

Jacaranda Tree Montessori has helped my son grow into a mindful, confident, independent little person and has helped educate me on strategies for strengthening the parent-child relationship. Simone is a very warm, compassionate, and intelligent instructor who creates a sense of serenity and support in the classroom while maintaining an air of humor and enjoyment.  Her genuineness allows her to form strong relationships with the children resulting in the children’s increased respect for themselves, others, and the learning process.”

Het is elke week weer een feestje om te komen. Onze dochter van 20 maanden voelt zich als een vis in het water. Met een grote grijns loopt ze rond om alles te ontdekken…“

Jacaranda Tree is a wonderful resource for children and parents alike. Joining the Jacaranda Tree family completely changed our lives in Amsterdam.”

Jacaranda Tree Montessori is de plek om rustig met je kind geconcentreerd nieuwe spellen te ontdekken. De spellen zijn leerzaam en inspirerend waardoor we ze vaak thuis ook doen. We zijn allebei heel blij dat het er is.”

Follow the child and you’ll discover amazing things!”

I love the calm environment that is provided at The Jacaranda Tree. Simone is such a lovely person and she does a great job of introducing Montessori to us.”

He’s benefited from being in a calm environment when I was feeling a bit less than calm(!) and Simone has taught me (by example) how to be a more confident parent.”

He loves the space and freedom and he loves being around other babies. He also loves the practical life activities, probably more than the toys; he has been using a glass and proper eating equipment at home from a young age because of the encouragement in class.”

Thank you for providing our children with a place that really feels like home to them!”

FAQ

Yes, there is a waitlist around 18+ months so I recommend signing up as soon as possible here:  http://www.jacarandatreemontessori.nl/to-register/

To find out the current length of the waitlist, click here.

We don’t have trial classes but you can make an appointment to pop in to observe the class for half an hour – these visits are for parents only (with the exception of babies under 6 months).

Once you are on the waitlist, we also have a private WhatsApp group where you can buy adhoc classes from people who are sick or traveling. So this is a great way to try a class as well.

All sessions are offered in English–circle time each session includes Dutch and English songs.

Dutch and other non-English speaking children are very welcome–a great opportunity for your child to be introduced to English.

Simone also speaks Dutch but uses her home language with the children.

  • It is nice for your child to wear comfortable clothing which may get wet or dirty.
  • They can carry their own small backpack with some indoor slippers to change into. In summer, they may wish to wear bare feet.
  • It is also a good idea to bring a change of clothes in case your child gets wet working with water.

It is requested that older siblings do not attend class. Younger siblings may come along but pay for a space once they are 14 months old.

If your child is sick or you are unable to attend, you may book in for a make-up class. Only one make-up class is allowed per child per term. We also have a private WhatsApp group where you can sell your class to another family.

No. We do not offer a drop-off program. Our classes are parent-child classes.

An important part of the program is for the parents to learn how to apply Montessori principles in their daily life. I love working with both the children and parents so that you benefit from this knowledge throughout your lives, not just when you are in class.

However, if you are looking for a drop off program, there are two bilingual Montessori day cares in Amsterdam – 2Voices. For children above 2.5 years, you may also find a Dutch Montessori voorschool attached to a Montessori primary school (see list here).

In the Netherlands, the official exclusion policies for children in day care etc are quite relaxed. Most illnesses are considered childhood illnesses and something that you need not worry about.

That said, at Jacaranda Tree Montessori we would like to keep children free from as much illness as possible.

It is a good sign to keep them home from playgroup if your child:

  • has a fever
  • has green mucus from their nose
  • has chicken pox which has not yet crusted over
  • has diarrhoea or blood in their stools
  • has whooping cough
  • has hand, foot and mouth disease
  • has a rash
  • are feeling a bit unwell, clingy and cranky

It is ok to bring them to class if they:

  • are generally happy but have a clear, runny nose. But please keep a tissue to hand and wash hands regularly to avoid spreading germs unnecessarily.
  • have an eye infection. But please be attentive and keep their eyes clean with a cloth during class and wash hands regularly.
  • have a cold sore. But please keep these covered to avoid spreading this virus.

If your child is sick, you can arrange a make up class for another day (max. 1 per course).

Cancellations within 2 weeks of the beginning of the course are non-refundable. If you cancel before this time, a cancellation fee of €25 will be charged to cover administration costs.

Let’s take a look at a session at Jacaranda Tree Montessori

Your child arrives and is warmly greeted by Simone in a way that makes your child feel comfortable – maybe a handshake, a wave, or perhaps your child brings a leaf to show her. The child takes their backpack to the shelf and hangs up their coat on a hook. They sit on a low bench to change into their slippers and notice their friends arriving.

The child finds the activity on the shelf that they are interested in and takes it to a mat or table to work. Julius has chosen a puzzle; Emma finds the watering can and heads to the sink to water the plants; Lila and Isaac sit down together with a basket of language materials—a basket of Australian animals and matching cards; some water is spilt on the floor, Mila fetches the small mop from the hook; Oliver is curled up with a book in the reading chair; and Maddi is busy too, observing the others at work.

Some of the older children help Simone to prepare snack. We spread crackers, slice bananas and make orange juice. Then we set the table and everyone is invited to join for a group snack time.

After snack time, we clear the dishes and make a circle to sing together. We sing songs in Dutch and English and move our bodies. Then it is time to say goodbye, put on our shoes, until next week. You can hear Henk asking his mother if he can make his own lunch when they get home.

The parents/carers stay for the session and observe their child at work, while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee with others. The parent/carer steps in only when needed, allowing the child independence in the environment.

The directress also assists the children and presents new materials to them. The directress will work closely with you and your child on their development.