AMI DIPLOMA COURSE

AMI 3–6 Diploma Course starts 08.01.2027

The internationally recognised Montessori Kindergarten training programme — the only one in Switzerland delivered through in-person teaching. Those who earn their diploma with us receive the same qualification as graduates in Amsterdam, New York or Sydney and can work in Montessori institutions worldwide.

Information Evenings:
31 August 2026, 5 October 2026, 12 November 2026
7:30 p.m. / Online via Zoom

amı

AMI 3–6 Diploma Course

This course enables participants to work in a Montessori Children’s House / kindergarten and to support children’s development in a professional and age-appropriate way.

The AMI 3–6 Diploma Course is delivered 95% in person at the Ballyhouse. It is designed to be completed alongside employment, with short modules generally taking place every other Friday and Saturday, as well as during selected weeks of the school holidays. This allows participants to combine the training with their work in a Children’s House or other professional commitments. The programme combines a strong academic foundation with extensive practical experience.

COURSE CONTENT

Fourteen Core Subjects, One Diploma

Over 400 hours, structured around fourteen core areas — from child development theory to creating your own Montessori materials.
01
Education & Psychology
02
Practical Life Exercises
03
Sensorial Materials
04
Language
05
Mathematics
06
Art & Design (Crafting / Drawing / Handiwork...)
07
Observation
08
Internship
09
Educational Theory
10
Administration
11
Reading & Discussion
12
Written Assignments
13
Materials Production
14
Materials Study

Who is it for?

This course is suitable for:

tick mark

Preschool Teachers

tick mark

Childcare centre staff

tick mark

Qualified childcare professionals (FaBe)

tick mark

People working in Montessori settings without a diploma

tick mark

Career changers looking for a new professional direction

tick mark

People who speak only English and are seeking employment at a bilingual institution in Switzerland

Course Information 2027

Course dates: January 2027 – February 2028

Detailed overview
Kinder spielen im Garten des Ballyhouse Schönenwerd
COURSE FORMAT

Why in-person learning? Benefits for participants

The in-person course combines well-founded with practical experience, personal guidance and collaborative learning on site.

tick mark

Learning with and from one another, observing each other and exchanging feedback make the learning process both more effective and more enjoyable.

tick mark

Through consistent, repeated work with the Montessori materials, you will become thoroughly familiar with them. You will be observed, guided and corrected where necessary, enabling you to apply and consolidate your theoretical knowledge in practice.

tick mark

You will have plenty of time to familiarise yourself with the prepared environment, allowing you to work within it with confidence and assurance.

tick mark

Questions and uncertainties can be discussed in person and clarified through practical situations in the Children’s House.

tick mark

The course instructor’s close observation ensures that any misunderstandings or uncertainties are identified and addressed immediately — something that is much more difficult to achieve through online learning.

tick mark

Conversations during breaks, lasting friendships and opportunities to build professional networks foster team spirit, social skills and resilience.

tick mark

This practical training can open up opportunities in the job market and may be a deciding factor for your future employer.

tick mark

Participants develop a network of personal relationships that can last a lifetime.

The in-person teaching model is recognised by AMI and has been successfully implemented worldwide for decades.

In recent years, I have successfully delivered this course in person in Switzerland. Recently, AMI Courses have also  been offered in an online / blended format.

For many reasons, I am not convinced by this new online approach (see the benefits outlined above). Therefore, from 2027 onwards, I will continue to deliver the proven in-person course format.

“What you tell me, I forget. What you show me, I remember. What you let me do, I understand.”  

— Confucius

Benefits of the Biloba Training Format for Institutions

tick mark

Students who complete this course receive practical, hands-on training.

tick mark

With several groups of children of different ages located in the same building, course participants gain valuable insight into working with a range of age groups.

tick mark

The course schedule has been specifically designed around the needs of Montessori schools. As sessions take place on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as during school holidays, staff need to spend less time away from their regular roles.

Course Location

95% in person at the Montessori Biloba Academy, Parkstrasse 36, 5012 Schönenwerd / 5% online (theory lectures).

Course Language

German with English translation.

Course Fees

CHF 8' 500. Registration and examination fees are included.

Course fees
Kinder spielen im Garten des Ballyhouse Schönenwerd

Montessori Reading Materials

Recommended reading in preparation for the course:

tick mark

M. Montessori, The secret of childhood, dtv/Klett-Cotta

tick mark

M. Montessori, The absorbent Mind, Herder

Toddler-Gruppe: Kleinkinder bei ersten sozialen Erfahrungen
Your traıner
Mariza Hefty
Course Director · Montessori Pedagogy for Ages 3–6
Mariza Hefty runs the AMI 3–6 Diploma Course, bringing many years of experience in Montessori education to the course. She combines in-depth expertise with a practical, personalised approach to learning at the Ballyhouse.

Co-founded by Maria Montessori herself in 1929, the Association Montessori Internationale continues to award the world’s original and most rigorous Montessori qualification.

FORMER STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

What Participants Say

Personal experiences from those who completed the in-person course with Mariza Hefty.

“I was very glad to have completed the diploma course in person, as the personal interaction and shared learning created a truly special dynamic. I also met wonderful people and made valuable connections.”
Sanja
“I chose to attend the Montessori course in person because I learn best through hands-on experience. For me, truly understanding something means handling it and trying it out for myself, so that I can later explain it clearly to children.”
Claudia
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ms Mariza Hefty for her outstanding in-person teaching on the AMI Montessori course for the 3–6 age group.
Her precise demonstrations and in-depth explanations enabled me to develop a deep understanding of the Montessori method and its application in everyday educational practice.
Her passion for Montessori education is truly inspiring.”
Nora
"… Additionally, being in person fosters a deep bond with my classmates, as we go through the challenging journey together each day. This shared experience creates a strong support network, helping us all to push forward and succeed, which simply cannot happen online."
Virginia
"The AMI course offers a level of depth and connection that simply cannot be replicated online. Being in the training centre provides invaluable hands on experience with the Montessori materials, allowing students to explore them directly."
Kate
"… the in-person experience is essential for a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the method itself. In-person participation helped me understand what is meant by a certain way of being in the environment, a certain movement of our hands… but also by observing our colleagues and their own ways of working."
Laura
"The 3–6 Montessori teaching training with Mariza transformed me into a true Montessori educator. Over the course of that year, I gained deep theoretical and practical knowledge and the confidence to work effectively with children.
This training did not just open the door to working in a Montessori prepared environment; it opened a new perspective on human development and the world."
Yuan Tian
Kind übt Selbstständigkeit mit Montessori-MaterialToddler-Gruppe: Kleinkinder bei ersten sozialen Erfahrungen