Term Time Plus; extends EMAS year with care, continuity and French immersion
- News Release
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
Edinburgh Montessori Arts School (EMAS) has announced Term Time Plus, extending provision for Nursery and Primary 1 by up to eight weeks per year.
It is not simply a holiday club but an extension of EMAS’s Montessori approach, keeping children with familiar teachers in prepared environments with access to Montessori materials, art resources and practical life activities.
The initiative responds to parent requests for holiday care while prioritising continuity and stability for very young children. Participation is optional, and EMAS emphasises that childhood should not become a year-round academic treadmill; the aim is to support families who need it while preserving rest, family time and unstructured moments.
A French immersion strand runs through Term Time Plus.
Term Time Plus includes a gentle French immersion strand woven throughout the day.
Language is most naturally absorbed at this age, and short bursts of conversational French, songs, cooking instructions, and play-based vocabulary create a joyful, organic experience.
The pilot sessions we ran in February were a delight to observe. The small group quickly established daily routines. There was a beautiful rhythm to the days:
Art explorations
Cooking together
Music and movement
Montessori work cycles
Outdoor play
Free imaginative play
The environment did much of the work. Because it was familiar, children settled quickly. Because the group was small, relationships deepened. Because the adults were known and trusted, children felt secure enough to explore.
French was not taught in a formal sense. It was lived. Through songs, simple instructions, shared meals and conversation, the language became part of the atmosphere rather than an imposed lesson.
A Thoughtful Extension, Not an Extension of Pressure
EMAS stresses that Term Time Plus is designed to enhance, not dilute, early childhood education, aligning with a coherent, humane approach to the early years.
