Roots & Wings Montessori Preschool, Damansara Heights

Established in 2016 by a group of passionate educators, Roots & Wings Montessori Preschool offers progressive and well-rounded educational programmes for children aged 12 months to six years old.

Housed in a double-storey bungalow within a serene and leafy neighbourhood, the school’s name is an apt reflection of its vision for its pupils: to instil firm roots and build strong foundations, while equipping its children with the ‘wings’ to soar to success, whether in school or beyond.

A holistic and well-rounded approach

At Roots & Wings Preschool, children are welcomed into a warm and homely environment that is conducive for learning. Classrooms are organised into various learning areas, each filled with enriching, multi-sensory learning materials that serve different educational objectives.

The Montessori approach forms the pillar of the school’s curriculum, especially for younger children. At this stage, children are given the freedom to explore, try new things, and test out ideas–cultivating their natural sense of curiosity and instilling in them a love for learning

They are also taught practical life skills, empowering them to become independent individuals that can manage their daily tasks with confidence.

As the children progress to their preschool years (4- 6 years old), a more structured curriculum is introduced, incorporating elements from the National Preschool Standard Curriculum (KSPK). The school emphasises proficiency in Malaysia’s three main languages – English, Bahasa Melayu, and Mandarin – which are taught alongside subjects such as Mathematics and Science, to prepare pupils for Primary 1.

The curriculum’s natural progression appropriately challenges children according to their developmental levels: for example, they are taught Phonics to enhance their listening and speaking skills, which eases them into reading. Younger children engage in constructive play with block toys and homemade clay, to ensure their fine motor skills are up to par before they progress to grasping pencils and writing.

Teachers at Roots & Wings are adept at coming up with creative ways to engage children, so that they learn while having fun. Rather than drilling knowledge by having pupils pore through textbooks and worksheets, teachers use aids such as flash cards, puppets, and live objects, and curate discussions, experiments, role play, and Q&A sessions, ensuring that the children are active participants in their own learning.

Since classrooms have a low teacher to student ratio of two teachers per class of 12, children receive personalised attention. These small groups are ideal for group work, where children can learn how to socialise and collaborate with their peers.

Staying healthy and active

An active child is a healthy child, which is why the school has a wide range of facilities that encourage physical movement. A key feature is its large swimming pool, where the children have swimming sessions weekly as part of their timetable.

Lessons are conducted by certified coaches from Days Perfect Swim, one of Malaysia’s premier swim academies, known for their expertise in providing home-based, private aquatic lessons. Additionally, the school provides spacious areas for sand, water, and messy play. It is one of a handful of preschools with a climbing wall in its indoor gym.

Supplementing the excellent curriculum is a slew of enrichment activities in the afternoon, which spans both physical development and academics, such as Taekwondo and modern dance classes, conducted by trained professionals.

Parents can also choose to enrol their children for the Mandarin enrichment class, which helps children to improve their vocabulary and communication skills in Mandarin.

Meanwhile, extracurricular activities in the form of field trips, such as to the petting zoo, broaden the children’s worldview whilst providing them with unforgettable experiences.

More than anything, Roots & Wings provides a safe and comfortable environment where children not only receive a well-rounded education but are also taken care of while their parents are away at work.

The school is a secure space equipped with CCTVs for safety and maintained to the highest standards of hygiene. Children enjoy nutritious, home-cooked meals prepared fresh daily by the resident cook, and they are alloted time for rest and naps for healthy growth.

Parents can trust that the school and their teachers have their child’s best interests in mind, with transparent communication through the LittleLives app, or in person during parent-teacher meetings.

At the end of the day, the school’s vision is to nurture each child’s potential to its maximum, whether in the areas of physical, emotional, or social development, says Roots & Wings Montessori Preschool’s principal, Ms. Rohetha Nagarajah. “Our mission is to empower children to spread their roots deep and reach for the skies, so that they can become confident and successful individuals in the future,” she adds.