Practical life
Explore the everyday work through which children coordinate movement, care for themselves and contribute to a shared environment.
AMI · Diploma · 3–6
AMI Primary (3–6) Diploma
Prepare to guide a Montessori Children’s House for children aged three to six. Study child development and the purposeful use of practical life, sensorial, language and mathematics materials, supported by observation and teaching practice.
Primary · Children’s HouseEnquire about this programme
Pathway
Diploma
Age focus
3–6
Next cohort
To be confirmed
Format
To be confirmed
YOUR PATHWAY
Who this journey is for.
- Prospective Children’s House guides
- Early childhood educators
- Career changers drawn to Montessori practice
IDEAS INTO PRACTICE
What you will explore.
The themes below introduce the educational focus. Your confirmed programme handbook will specify the curriculum and requirements.
Sensorial exploration
Consider materials that help children notice, compare and refine their perception of the world.
Language
Follow the relationship between spoken language, vocabulary, sounds, writing and reading.
Mathematical thinking
Discover how concrete materials offer children ways to encounter quantity, order and mathematical relationships.
Social life and observation
Reflect on grace and courtesy, freedom within limits and the adult’s careful observation of individual development.
THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Knowledge becomes practice.
Combine theory and demonstrations with supervised practice, observation and teaching experience. Reading, discussion, material making and personal reference albums help connect Montessori principles with classroom decisions.
A community of learners
Bring your questions and your experience. Professional preparation asks us to examine our own responses as carefully as the environments we prepare for children.
Study commitment
The supplied documents describe at least 400 hours of classroom-based training, a minimum of 140 hours of supervised materials practice, and observation and teaching practice. These figures describe reference requirements, not a current timetable.
Where this pathway can lead
Preparation for guiding a Montessori Children’s House. The supplied documents describe the AMI Primary diploma, awarded after successful completion of the full course requirements.
Your faculty
Programme-specific teaching appointments are to be confirmed. Meet the wider Institute community while admissions prepares the details for your cohort.
Meet our peoplePLAN YOUR STUDY
Dates, fees & entry requirements.
- Next dates
- To be confirmed with admissions
- Duration
- To be confirmed with admissions
- Delivery format
- To be confirmed with admissions
- Teaching location
- To be confirmed with admissions
- Fees
- To be confirmed with admissions
- Entry requirements
- The supplied handbook and existing course page describe NQF Level 4 or equivalent for South African applicants, A-Level or equivalent for international applicants, English proficiency and an interview. Ask admissions for the current document checklist.
- Observation & practice
- Section 4.3 of the handbook describes 170 combined observation and teaching-practicum hours; section 4.6 describes 170 observation hours plus teaching practice. Ask admissions to confirm the current allocation before planning placements.
- Assessment
- The supplied handbook describes at least 90% attendance, theory and reference albums, material making, written work, observation, teaching practice and written and oral examinations. Confirm the current certification agreement before enrolment.
- Award & awarding body
- Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), as described in the supplied reference documents. Confirm the current cohort’s award with admissions.
- Support options
- To be confirmed with admissions
Descriptions are based on the supplied reference PDFs and the existing Institute programme page, reviewed 16 October 2026. Confirm current dates, fees, delivery, faculty and certification requirements with admissions. No current fees or dates are inferred from older listings.
Your admissions journeyREAD BEFORE YOU APPLY
Your course documents.
Explore the educational outline in the brochure and the fuller study expectations in the handbook.
Reference editions, not a current course offer. These PDFs include older schedules, fees, contacts and policies. Confirm the latest details with admissions before applying or making payments.
PDF · 1.3 MB · Reference edition
Course brochure
May 2014
Read course brochure (PDF, new tab) ↗Download PDF ↓PDF · 0.7 MB · Reference edition
Student handbook
Supplied February 2023 file; printed publication date 24 June 2022
Read student handbook (PDF, new tab) ↗Download PDF ↓A LITTLE MORE CLARITY
Questions we hear.
What makes this different from orientation?
A diploma is a substantial professional preparation pathway. Orientation introduces the principles and the supporting adult’s role; it is not a replacement for diploma training.
When can I join, and what will it cost?
The next dates and fees are to be confirmed. Contact admissions for the current course information before making travel, employment or financial arrangements.
Who will teach the course?
Faculty assignments are confirmed for each cohort. Ask admissions for the teaching team and programme handbook for the offering you are considering.
A PERSONAL CONVERSATION
We would be delighted
to hear from you.
Tell us what brings you here. Please do not include children’s details or sensitive personal documents.
admin@indabainstitute.org
+27 63 649 8191
B14 Newberry House Montessori School, Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West, 7130, South Africa
Please arrange visits with the team.
KEEP EXPLORING
Other pathways.
AMI · Diploma
010–3years
Assistants to Infancy
Prepare to guide children through the first three years of life. This diploma brings Montessori pedagogy together with developmental study, observation and practical work in infant and toddler environments.
AMI · Certificate
023–6years
Primary Orientation & Assistants
Discover how to support children and the guide in a Montessori Children’s House. This introductory certificate develops understanding of observation, independence, language and the prepared environment; it is distinct from the full 3–6 teaching diploma.
AMI · Diploma
036–12years
Elementary
Prepare to guide children aged six to twelve through an interconnected exploration of the world. Study Montessori elementary development and Cosmic Education, linking language, mathematics, sciences, history and the arts through imagination and enquiry.