ABOUT MONTESSORI EUROPE
Advancing Montessori Education Across Europe and Beyond
Montessori Europe is an independent, non-profit association that brings together educators, researchers, school leaders, training organisations, adolescents, and national Montessori associations from across Europe and beyond. Founded in 2003, our mission is to strengthen Montessori education by connecting people, sharing knowledge, and supporting high-quality practice across all planes of development.
Montessori Europe is intentionally not affiliated with any single Montessori training organisation or accrediting body.
This independence is fundamental to who we are. It enables us to remain open, inclusive, and welcoming to all Montessori educators and organisations, regardless of training pathway, pedagogical lineage, or national context. By maintaining this neutrality, we create a shared space where diverse perspectives can meet, collaborate, and enrich one another, contributing to a strong, united, Montessori community.
Rooted in Montessori’s principles of human development, respect for the child, and education for peace, Montessori Europe serves as a platform for collaboration, professional learning, and innovation. Through networking, research, sustainability work, and adolescent engagement, we support educators as they respond to the changing needs of children and young people today.
Our work is guided by Agenda2030
A strategic framework centred on three key pillars, with a cross-cutting commitment to Peace and Resilience.
Pillar 1: Research
Strengthening access to high-quality, understandable research on Montessori education across all developmental stages.
Pillar 2: Sustainability
Empowering educators and adolescents to meaningfully engage with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Pillar 3: Adolescence
Creating opportunities for young people to collaborate, contribute, and lead within a European Montessori community.
Together, these pillars reflect our belief in lifelong human development and Montessori’s vision of education as a transformative social force.
Our Mission
Montessori Europe exists to connect, support, and inspire Montessori communities across Europe by:
Promoting high-quality Montessori education across all planes
Facilitating dialogue, collaboration, and professional learning
Making Montessori research accessible to educators, parents, and policymakers
Supporting sustainability education aligned with the SDGs
Strengthening adolescent development and opportunities for meaningful participation
Building partnerships across countries and sectors
Advocating for Montessori principles and the rights and dignity of every child
Our Vision
We envision a Europe where Montessori education is:
Deeply connected across countries and cultures
Grounded in accessible, high-quality research
Practised through sustainable, future-focused approaches
Responsive to the evolving needs of children and adolescents
A driving force for peace, resilience, and social transformation
Montessori Europe strives to be a catalyst for unity, collaboration, and innovation empowering educators and young people to build a more sustainable and peaceful world.
Our History
A Growing Community Since 2003
Montessori Europe was established in 2003 to create a European-wide network that supports Montessori education and strengthens cooperation between individuals, schools, training centres, and organisations.
Over the past two decades, Montessori Europe has:
Hosted annual international congresses
Developed a strong programme of professional learning webinars
Supported adolescent engagement through collaborative European initiatives
Advancing sustainability education across the SDGs
Facilitated connections between national associations
Built partnerships with organisations working in research, education, and sustainable development
From its earliest years, Montessori Europe has upheld Maria Montessori’s belief that education is humanity’s greatest pathway to peace, a principle that remains at the heart of our work.