Montessori vs EYFS — what's the difference?
A plain-English comparison of two of the most common early years approaches you'll find in Ghana.
5 min read · Updated 20 August 2026
Two of the most common early years approaches you'll see on Ghanaian school profiles are Montessori and EYFS. Both are respected. They just come from different traditions and value different things.
Montessori in a nutshell
Montessori is a child-led approach developed by Maria Montessori. Classrooms are 'prepared environments' with specific hands-on materials. Children choose their own work from what's on offer, and teachers observe and guide rather than instruct from the front.
Look for: mixed-age groups, wooden materials, long uninterrupted work periods, emphasis on independence.
EYFS in a nutshell
EYFS — the Early Years Foundation Stage — is a framework used in the UK for children from birth to five, structured around seven areas of learning. Play is central, but there's more explicit adult-led planning than in Montessori.
Look for: play-based learning tied to specific outcomes, regular assessment against 'early learning goals', a balance of adult-led and child-led activities.
Which is 'better'?
Neither. The right answer is usually about the individual school — the leadership, the teachers, the space, the culture — more than the label. Many Ghanaian schools blend both approaches, so ask what they actually do in a typical week rather than which label they use.