The course consists of three components:

• One: Knowledge of Childcare and Education - an introduction to the psychology and development of pre-school children.
• Two: Use of the Montessori Apparatus - the Montessori Method involves the use of specialised teaching materials, and instruction in their use is provided.
• Three: Research Project - In addition to the taught part of the course, postgraduate students produce a 10,000 word dissertation based on a short research project. This will require attendance at some Saturday seminars on research methodology in the first term, and then individual tutorials. The project will be of the standard of a pilot study for a master's degree.

It is assessed by coursework throughout the course, and also by practical and theory examinations at the end.

The structure of the course differs from the full-time course in that attendance at the centre is on one day a week only, term-times, for a year. This means that a great deal more work must be done in the student's own time. A teaching practice may be started after the examinations (though in certain circumstances - e.g. a student who is already working in a Montessori nursery - it may be done alongside the other part of the course) and it may be done on a flexi-time basis (e.g. two/three mornings a week). In this case the diploma is awarded.

Component One: Knowledge of Childcare and Education (2.5-6yrs)

• The Child's Environment - The ideal nursery environment, nature v nurture debate, safety, Government regulations, integration, parental co-operation
• The Teacher's Task - Preparation of the teacher, motivation, levels of obedience, normalisation, recognising sensitive periods, child protection
• How Children Develop - Norms of child development, physical, intellectual, emotional, personality and social development, sensitive periods, pampered/deviant/weak children, causes of behavioural/developmental problems
• Observing Children - Methods of observation, choice, use and evaluation of methods, variations of settings, children's rights
• How Children Think and Learn - Learning theories, e.g. behaviourist, cognitive and social learning; concept formation, Bruner, Piaget, Vygotsky; learning problems e.g. SLD; play and work, different types of play e.g. solitary, co-operative. Learning through play; different learning styles and different teaching strategies; group/individual teaching, evaluation of learning
• Creative Work - Montessori on creativity, imagination and fantasy; artwork with different media suitable for nursery children, process not product, art appreciation; music, movement dance and drama in the whole curriculum, the' topic wheel'; using a variety of teaching strategies for aesthetic subjects

Component Two: Use of the Montessori Apparatus

• Life Skills - The Montessori work cycle, practical life skills exercises, developing gross and fine motor control, value of cultural diversity
• Educating the Senses - Rationale for sensory education, sensorial education exercises, exploration of sound, colour, texture, shape and spacial form in 2 or 3 dimensions, special needs
• Teaching about the World - The sun, as star and as source of energy, Solar system; Earth, shape and structure; land, air and water forms; Continents and countries, cultural diversity; mapping; Variety of living things, classification; Habitats, life-cycles; Concepts of time, personal time lines, annual changes; Prehistoric time line, eras
• Language and Literacy - Language as it involves speaking, listening, reading and writing; Language acquisition, language and thought, norms of development; preparation through rhymes, practical life/sensorial programmes, other skills; different approaches to the teaching of reading; writing skills, introduction of grammar
• Early Mathematics - Preparing the child through earlier Montessori exercises, also sorting into sets, matching, number rhymes and stories, games, calendar time, movement, sequencing, shopping, work with clay etc.; moving from concrete to abstract; the Montessori maths materials; the four basic functions

Component Three: Research Project

• Research Methodology - Direct & indirect methods of research in the social sciences; choice of topic
• Dissertation - Presentation, research, analysis

The Diploma is awarded on satisfactory attendance (minimum 90%) and completion of all the course assessments, to at least a satisfactory standard:

• Written coursework, set throughout the course
• Production of reference files on the practical materials
• Detailed observations of children
• Making of language and cultural teaching materials
• Two three hour written examinations
• An individual practical examination
• Satisfactory completion of 400 hours practice teaching
• Visits to oversee the teaching practice
• Additional coursework, based on the practical experience
• Dissertation