Capital Montessori offers an authentic, high quality Montessori toddler and preschool programme for children 2-6 years old.

 

The School combines a Montessori philosophy with New Zealand's National Early Childhood Education Curriculum - Te Whariki. Our programme is designed to open your child up to life - nurturing their independence, confidence, creativity and curiosity. 

Our new 2-3 Classroom, opened in May 2026

We are excited to introduce our Rata Classroom for our youngest tamariki, aged 2–3 years. Over the past few months, we have thoughtfully prepared the environment and opened our doors on the 4th of May 2026.

We aim to provide a carefully prepared environment where each child is supported to become independent, capable, and confident from the very beginning. With a small class size, we are able to offer calm, responsive care and meaningful learning experiences. This strong foundation supports a smooth and successful transition into our Montessori 3–6 community and beyond.

One of the first Montessori preschools in Wellington

In 1987, a group of committed parents established Capital Montessori in response to a growing need within the community, beginning with one classroom before expanding soon after.

Almost 40 years later, as we open our toddler classroom, we continue to carry that same vision forward, welcoming tamariki to begin their Montessori journey from the very start.

As well as our Rata classroom, we have two well-resourced 3-6 year classrooms - Kowhai and Koru - with qualified and experienced teachers. These classrooms have around 25 children in each class, while Rata has a maximum of 15 children.

Children attend preschool Monday to Friday from 8.30am until 1pm or 3pm each day in our 3 -6 classrooms, and for a minimum of three days in our 2-3 classroom. We offer extended hours until 5pm for enrolled children in our 3-6 classes. We also offer a Holiday Programme during our short and long holiday breaks for these classes only.

A caring community school

Our school is very special. It's a not-for-profit, parent co-operative run by a Principal and an elected Board of parents. It's a place where everyone's voice and contribution is valued and respected, and people care for each other and the environment.

Read our ero report

Capital Montessori School is a member of Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand (MANZ) & the Montessori Journey to Excellence Programme.

 

Parent Testimonials
 

Toddler Community (2-3) and Preschool (3-6)

Our toddler and preschool programmes offer a foundation for life. Everything we do is designed to nurture a child's joy and love of learning, independence and self-motivation, confidence, respect and creativity.

Toddler Community - Preparing roast potato and rosemary from the garden

“Independence is not a static condition; it is a continuous conquest,” Maria Montessori — a reminder that every small step your child takes truly matters.

Our Montessori Toddler Programme is active, child-led, and thoughtfully designed to support learning through all five senses. Children are introduced to Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Movement, and Culture. Through repetition, exploration, and hands-on experiences, they develop confidence, independence, and growing competence.

Between the ages of two and three, children move through important sensitive periods for language, order, movement, small objects, toilet learning, music, grace and courtesy, and sensory development. Our prepared environment and carefully designed Montessori materials respond to these stages, offering meaningful opportunities that nurture the whole child.

The daily rhythm of the classroom reflects toddlers’ natural drive to learn through movement, choice, and purposeful activity, while honouring each child’s individual interests, strengths, and pace of development. As children complete the Toddler Programme, they transition seamlessly into the Montessori Preschool Programme, where they continue to deepen their understanding and prepare for their journey to school.

“Toddlers are not logical, but they are magical,” — Judy Orion, Director of Pedagogy AMI Montessori

We are now accepting applications for our brand-new Montessori 2–3 classroom

Preschool (3-6)

The first two years of our preschool programme prepare your child for meaningful, holistic exploration of key learning areas - practical life, sensorial, language, music, mathematics, science and cultural topics. The final year, from five to six years old, is the culmination of these two years - where the concepts and skills they have learned truly blossom and a 'love of learning' becomes a strong and enduring part of who they are.

The Montessori Classroom

The Montessori classroom is the ideal environment for young enquiring minds to develop their problem solving abilities, visualise abstract ideas and have lots of fun all at the same time. Children love using the interactive Montessori materials to explore interesting and important concepts. Our classrooms are warm, inviting, peaceful places carefully prepared to stimulate and inspire our children and support their natural development.

The outdoor environment is a vital part of every child's learning. Our outdoor classrooms feature native and flowering plants, alongside a central vegetable garden. Children have the privilege of exploring outdoor spaces throughout the changing seasons, fostering a deeper bond with the natural world.

We have three classrooms at Capital Montessori School. Rata, our new toddler community for 2-3 year olds, recently opened in May this year. Our two preschool classrooms, Koru and Kowhai, are designed for children aged from 3 - 6 years. Enrolment in Rata may either be for morning sessions (8.30am -11.30am), or full day sessions (8.30am - 3pm), or a combination of both, for three to five days a week. Note, there is a minimum enrolment of three days in this class.

In our preschool classrooms, Koru and Kowhai (3-6 years), the school day is from 8.30am to 1pm or 3pm Monday to Friday, with the option of staying later in our extended day progamme, which runs until 5pm. We follow the primary school terms with four terms each year and an extended break in Summer. We offer a school holiday programme during the short term breaks and for the last three weeks of the summer break for children enrolled in these classrooms only. The extended day programme which runs until 5pm is available for the full school year, including the holiday programme. *Please note that we do not offer the holiday programme or the extended day hours for the Rata community (2-3yrs).

Interested in seeing our preschool in action? Email us to arrange a time to visit.

ARRANGE a school tour
“Play is the work of the child”
— Maria Montessori

Please note, after many wonderful years, we are pausing our Playgroup from Term 2. More information to come.

CMS Playgroup

 We offer a calm and nurturing playgroup environment for infants and toddlers from 0-3 years to explore, learn and socialise accompanied by a parent or family member. It's also a place for parents to learn more about Montessori, develop friendships and find support.

See CMS playgroup in action.

*In May 2026, this room became our new Rata 2-3 year old classroom.

Our beautiful, dedicated toddler room and garden have been developed to support the needs and interests of under 3s and their growing independence and confidence. At playgroup, your child can explore a wide range of quality materials and resources for developing skills in hand-eye and gross motor coordination, music, art, language and practical life activities.

Playgroup is for families interested in exploring Montessori or have children at our preschool. The only Montessori-inspired playgroup in South Wellington, it is facilitated by a dedicated Montessori guide. Playgroup is a friendly and welcoming place where you'll have the chance to observe your child and relax with other parents.

Sessions run on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, from 9am - 11am for toddlers and infants.

You can choose to come along for up to three sessions a week

CMS Playgroup Fees are $100.00 per term for up to 3 sessions.

We always welcome new families.

If you are interested in visiting or joining our under-3 playgroup community please email us to arrange a time to drop into a session.

VISIT A PLAYGROUP SESSION

We help children become joyful learners

Maria Montessori discovered that children who experience the joy of learning become happy, confident, fulfilled children. And that the path to that was giving them the freedom to independently choose activities that interest them and allowing them to concentrate and interact with those activities in their own way, for as long as they chose to.

Our approach is guided by Montessori philosophy.

A Capital Montessori education responds to the individual needs and interests of every child, giving them pathways for growth in language, music, mathematics, science, physical coordination, and art. As well as a broad range of practical life skills from gardening, to cooking and caring for their environment and social skills based on grace and courtesy.   

Observers, Creators and Communicators  

Our teachers have a very important role. They are skilled observers of children, so they can interpret and respond to their individual needs to encourage them reach their potential. They create and maintain a prepared learning environment to inspires each and every child. They are friendly and skilled communicators to make you and your child feel welcome

At Capital Montessori we have a team of professional teachers with a shared vision for quality Montessori Education. We have a mix of trained Montessori teachers and Montessori teachers in training. Our teachers are trained in the Montessori Method by recognised Montessori organisations such as the Association Montessori International (AMI), Aperfield Montessori Trust and Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE).

Our team offers enrolled families opportunities through the school year to participate in parent education programs, and community events. This nurtures relationship between our school, children and their families – the foundation stone of every strong Montessori community.

We are also pleased to introduce our Rata Community teaching team

Kimberly and Jane bring a wonderful depth of care and expertise to our Rātā Community. Kimberly is moving from Koru classroom and is AMI-trained in the 0–3 age group, offering strong foundations in Montessori practice. Jane, a Montessori mother of two, is an experienced teacher with a passion for working with toddlers. 

As we begin this new class, Kimberly and Jane will create a warm, respectful, and nurturing environment where our youngest tamariki are supported to grow with confidence and independence.