Choosing a School in Sotogrande? What Parents Should Know About Montessori Education

Today I sit down with Olimpia Tarda, the founder of Nanitos Montessori School in Sotogrande to talk about her journey from opening her first nursery school in 1999 to building a bilingual Montessori environment for children, from babies to 12 years old. We discuss how Montessori education works in practice, why the early years matter so much, how children develop independence and emotional intelligence, what makes a school truly bilingual, how students transition into Spanish and international schools, and why more international families are actively searching for alternative education options in Sotogrande.00:00 Why education matters so much for families00:50 How Olimpia knew she wanted to work with children01:31 Opening her first nursery school in 199902:18 Why the first years of a child’s life are the most important03:17 The “absorbent mind” and how children learn through movement04:18 Inside the Sotogrande school: size, ages, and capacity05:23 How the school expanded from early years to age 1205:45 Opening just before Covid and the challenge that followed06:20 Where students go after graduating from the school06:42 How bilingual education works in English and Spanish07:15 What Montessori education really means08:00 Why Montessori is more personalised than traditional schooling10:05 Montessori materials, hands-on learning, and project work11:00 Why children are grouped in mixed ages13:02 How children switch naturally between languages14:32 Government recognition and international accreditation15:12 Why some schools say Montessori without truly following the method16:48 Sport, outdoor learning, and learning beyond the classroom18:58 Why the school uses the “seed of life” symbol20:07 What “education for life” means in practice22:05 Emotional intelligence, independence, and confidence in children24:17 How her own son led her to discover Montessori26:05 Why Montessori is more established internationally than in Spain27:22 The biggest misconception: “Montessori is just play”28:43 Teacher training, observation, and personalised learning29:18 The Rainbow Class and support for children with additional needs30:46 How the school fits into the wider Sotogrande education landscape31:29 Why families search online for Montessori schools on the Costa del Sol33:39 Why parents choose this school for community, not just facilities35:45 What a typical school day looks like38:40 Music, French, sports, psychology, and project-based learning41:08 How progress is measured and reported for each child43:18 Preparing students for entry exams into international schools44:41 What skills children need today for the modern world47:18 The most rewarding part of seeing children grow48:57 Advice for parents choosing a school in Sotogrande50:43 The future vision: growing beyond primary yearsFor families considering a move, education is one of the strongest drivers of relocation into Sotogrande, alongside safety, lifestyle, and community. That makes school choice one of the most searched and most emotionally important topics for new residents, especially international families trying to balance academic quality, bilingualism, wellbeing, and long-term fit in the area.International Montessori Schoolhttps://www.ims-sotogrande.com/CONNECT WITH CHARLIE!📲 Mobile +34 607 911 661✉️ Email: [email protected]🔗 Website: https://charlesgubbins.com/STAY CONNECTED!📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlieinsotogrande/👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlieinsotogrande👨‍💻 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charliegubbins🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nollsotogrande🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/charliegubbins📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charlesgubbins