The benefits of a mixed age group

One of the most noticeable differences in a Montessori nursery environment is that a single Montessori classroom is designed for children from a wide age range typically across 3 years, as opposed to mainstream education where children are grouped arbitrarily according to single age bands. 

Reflecting society and building a community

Generally society forms into diverse groups of varying ages and abilities. If you start a new job, generally someone who has been there longer will help show you the ropes. We form hierarchies to strengthen our organisations and ensure experience is shared to benefit all. In communities, elders provide the role model for younger people to watch and learn from. Even in your family get togethers, cousins, aunts, siblings, and grandparents all play a unique role in the camaraderie you share. A Montessori mixed age environment is modelled on this natural world, so that children may learn from a wider range of interactions. When all children are the same age, the experiences do not vary as much.

A Complete Education

Montessori is often referred to as an “aid for life”. This is because in addition to its rigorous mathematics and literacy curriculum, Montessori also recognises that education should also be about compassion, empathy, and responsibility. In a mixed-age classroom, older children have the chance to share their knowledge with those who have not yet learned. 

This has several benefits:- Older children learn patience and tolerance for those who are less able than them. They also have the opportunity to reinforce and master their own knowledge and skills by demonstrating what they have learnt to others. As they take on this responsibility as a leader in the classroom they learn to exercise this influence conscientiously and with care and build a strong sense of self-worth by helping others. The younger children has a relatable role model to look up to from whom they will more readily accept direction and be motivated to solve problems with, including conflict resolution. Both ages of children grow in empathy and acceptance as they learn that not everyone works or thinks in the same way.

Learning tailored to each unique child

A mixed age classroom means there can be no one-size fits all lessons as there are different levels of ability and development. Instead every child has their own learning journey and the teachers plan for their individual needs meaning every child can learn at his or her own pace without the pressure or embarrassment of being more or less advanced that everyone else in the class. Instead, children are free to advance in their current area of development as quickly as they wish, which reduces the boredom and frustration of having to learn at the pace of the average of the class.

Similarly-aged children are still observed individually by their teachers in order to most effectively meet their unique needs. Children are presented with the right work at the right time, instead of sitting through lessons that, developmentally, are inappropriate for them. Even group activities such as Grace and Courtesy are tailored to the particular children taking part.

Stability of learning environment

Mixed age grouping means that children experience less transition year on year than in a traditional setting. They often stay in the same physical classroom environment for several years with familiar teachers, meaning that they are more settled in their classroom as they are well acquainted with it and are therefore able to act more independently within it. They have a strong sense of ownership of their learning environment 

Children can also develop meaningful relationships with other children who have been with them through their learning journey. This environment strong community bond in the classroom where cooperation and collaboration are more likely.

Every qualified Montessori teacher is specifically trained to teach children up to the age of six and the materials in the classroom are designed to meet all the developmental needs of children aged up to six so there is no fear of a child ‘outgrowing’ the Montessori classroom before they go to Primary School.

Next Steps

Many parents worry that since the Montessori classroom departs from mainstream schools in this and other ways that it will be too steep or challenging a transition for their child when they go to Primary school. However, in our experience the reverse is true. By having reaped the benefits of a stable classroom community, Montessori children are often emotionally more robust and resilient, and have strong social skills which make them more able to adapt to any new environment. It is also worth mentioning that children have different phases in their development and as they reach the age of five they are coming to the end of their first phase of development 0-6 and so their developmental needs begin to shift significantly, and so the time is ripe for a new learning environment.


“Montessori children are special because they are gifted with the capacity to live well with others and with the understanding that their actions have multiple reactions.” Lynne Lawrence, Executive Director of AMI Global, 2016.