15 OCTOBER 1988, Page 33

Ossification

Sir: I read Alexandra Artley's article in The Spectator (1 October) with great in- terest, but I feel most strongly that she has not presented an informed, valid or up-to- date picture of what is happening in pre-school education, particularly in the field of Montessori.

The London Montessori Centre was formed in 1979 with the specific aim of countering the ossification of Maria Mon- tessori's principle and practice. The teachers being trained here have access to the latest research in early childhood education, and are encouraged to explore, participate in and question all aspects of Montessori's original tenets. It is recog- nised all over the world that the courses we run, both correspondence and at our various centres, are comprehensively geared to providing nursery education of the highest standard with an emphasis on the latest educational research.

To this end, I issue an invitation to Alexandra Artley to visit The London Montessori Centre, 18 Balderton Street, London W1 to spend time in our lecture rooms and to observe in our Nursery School, in order that she may see for herself that the Montessori method is not in all cases ossified.

J. Lesley Britton

Principal, London Montessori Centre, 18 Balderton Street, London WI