A NEW Montessori primary school based at Alexandra Hills has begun accepting expressions of interest from parents ahead of its first classes next year.
The school, which will sit beside the Redlands Church of Christ and an aged care home, will accept students aged five to eight in term two 2020 but plans to cater for prep to grade six students by 2023.
The East Coast Montessori school board will spend about $100,000 to renovate an old child care centre that sits on church-owned land at McMillan Road.
It will lease the land and run classes out of the building until the school reaches capacity, at which point the board will look to find a more suitable home.
East Coast Montessori chairperson Rebecca Grugan said students would be taught according to Montessori curriculum, which aimed to help individual students find their strengths, passions and interests while creating zero waste communities and sustainable policies.
The primary school will be situated just a five minute drive away from the Montessori childcare centre on Verwood Court.
Parents should expect to pay $1850 per term, or $7400 per year, for prep to grade three students in 2020.
Ms Grugan said it had taken four and a half years to secure the church land.
She said the school would become a hotbed for young entrepreneurs.
"Montessori schools don't follow a typical school day," Ms Grugan said.
"Students might come in from nine until 12 and do what we call a work cycle.
"We have a prepared environment where children can work on their own in whatever subject they want at whatever time works for them.
"We then have lunch together before starting the second work cycle.
"Our second work cycle will be outdoors.
"Nature and environmental impact needs to be in the curriculum more than it is in traditional schools."
Renovation work will begin in August, with a completion date set down for January 2020.
Ms Grugan said the community was invited to lend a helping hand.
"The great thing about Montessori is that it is the best solution for what they're trying to fix in state schools now," Ms Grugan said.
"If the community wants to see that happen for the Redlands, then we're asking them to help.
Ms Grugan said 210 students were on the school's waiting list but only 40 would be accepted next year.
She said the school would provide scholarships to disadvantaged students.
"Traditional scholarships are based on talent," Ms Grugan said.
"We want to give opportunities to students and break the cycle."
