Montessori nursery for non verbal 2 year old

[Hillsnearby]

I have the opportunity to put my son into a highly recommended montessori nursery. It is just for 2-4 year olds and he has just turned 2.

I have a good feeling about the nursery and the workers all seem very warm and engaging too.

However I am worried about my son as he will be among the youngest (his room is for 2-3 year olds, although they all share the garden at various times of the day).

He also does not speak at all (which is why I'm keen to send him to help his speech). I worry about how he will handle the environment without being able to communicate with the adults and other children. I know they are encouraged to be quite independent but he is not at all good at being independent at the moment (probably my and dh's fault )
Does anyone have experience with how a child like this could cope in a montessori environment? And how I could tell if he is settling in well or not (as he can't tell me about it)?



(I'm a sahm and I will be sending him one day at first and hopefully increasing to 2 days. Will be a short day at first as well until he settles.)

[Hillsnearby]

Sorry have reported this in nurseries topic now.

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

Children can communicate very well without actual speech.

I bet your child uses gesture, and points with eyes as well as with a hand/finger. A skilled practitioner will quickly learn to read such non verbal cues, and also take into account body language, facial expressions, verbalisations too, all in context.

Does the nursery have a person with a special interest in speech and language acquisition and development?

You will know how he is settling in by his demeanour and response.

[maja00]

You'd be better sending him two days a week straight off to help him settle - one day is really tough on children.

A nursery that takes 2 year olds should be experienced in dealing with children who aren't speaking well yet. Have you had his hearing checked out?

You'll know if he's settling in well if he is happy to go, seems to be fond of his keyworker, if happily occupied when you pick him up. Some children cry initially at drop off when they are settling in but this usually resolves quite quickly - if he continues to resist going, staff report he is sad and doesn't join in while there, and he looks lost or sad when you collect him then you'll know!