Montessori learning is being shut down at Leah’s school – is a push towards ‘explicit instruction’ to blame?

Leah attended a Montessori stream in a Victorian public school while she has been in and out of hospital, but the stream is being phased out. Photograph: Supplied

Michelle’s year 8 daughter, Leah*, has been in and out of hospital since birth with complex medical issues, and Michelle says flexible learning through a Montessori program has allowed her to keep up with school.

She says the Montessori stream at their nearby public school in Victoria has taken a lot of anxiety out of her daughter’s education, due to its “self-directed learning”.