Montessori International College

I usually don't write reviews, however, after our experience with MIC Forest Glen, I felt that it was important that no other family has to endure what we did. Our son started just over halfway through Kindy and the guides/teachers were acceptable with no major complaints at this time.

Year 1 changed that tone for the worse and without writing a novel the short of it is, our spirited son was struggling somewhat in class and socially. We were strongly encouraged to obtain a diagnosis of ADHD and the school implied that the funding would help our Son's in-class learning.
Meanwhile, I was already paying for a private OT, 3 x sessions a week (not at the school's expense).
Following the diagnosis of ADHD, the guides/teachers then recommended on a few occasions that Medication would work well for him. Now, our son is no saint and quite spirited but in no way has he ever physically hurt anyone nor was he a menace. Did he need extra help and struggle to sit still and quiet like a mouse, yes. He also found it hard to make friends, which was brought to their attention and never rectified. He would hop into the car a few days a week, with tears rolling down his face, saying no one likes me.

We chose MIC because we thought the 'Montessori philosophy' would nurture, encourage, and support his slight neurodiversity. Rather than providing him with that support (which they were getting government funding for), they made my son feel different and not good enough, not the cookie-cutter child they 'wanted' in their school.

To top things off, during cultural exploration lessons, my son wanted to choose and create something from his culture, he came home and expressed that his guide had told him he was not able to do it, and when I questioned why, I was told that it may have been too confronting for the other children in the class (war struck villages). So much for cultural diversity and the Montessori way of 'child-led learning and being able to express themselves freely'.

Finally, when we called meetings to have the issues rectified in order for us to decide if we were to return 2025, the meetings were delayed which pushed us a week or so out of the notice time frame so they kept our $2,500 bond and refused a refund.

Leaving MIC with a crushed spirit, a child that is behind in education -because the support and philosophy were not provided.

Save your $11,000 per year and think twice before thinking the Montessori school is going to be excellent as it was a disaster for us.

Aside from the emotional, there is no hall or theatre for the kids and the playground facilities are dismal compared to other schools, private and public.