How prince george's preschool is teaching him to 'do things for himself'

When Prince George strolled into his first day of pre-school at Westacre Montessori last week, he looked relaxed and happy – a sure sign that he was ready for school and it was the right

place for him. That’s because it is just the place for a future king, says Louise Livingston, director of training at the Maria Montessori Institute, where many of George’s teachers studied.

Following the methods pioneered by Italian educator Maria Montessori, Westacre Montessori School in East Walton, which is not far from the family’s country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk,

stresses that children think for themselves as early as possible. “There is a lot of focus on independence and helping children do things for themselves and make their own decisions and

their own choices,” Livingston tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “They will be encouraging him – right from the minute he walks across the doorstep – to do things for himself,” she adds. In

his first days, George will do “simple practical activities,” like pouring, removing and replacing bottle tops and lids, fastening buttons and hooking zippers. He’ll also participate in

group activities with other children, like story time, singing songs and learning about festivals. At Westacre, like other Montessori preschools, there is a mix of age groups – up to age 5

in the Norfolk school’s case. “The younger children learn by watching the older children and the older ones really benefit by helping the younger children,” says Livingston. “There is great

benefit for learning and social behavior in an atmosphere where there’s no competition because there is a mixed-age group. Children don t think about what anybody else’s age is,” she adds. •

_WANT TO KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST ROYALS COVERAGE? CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ROYALS NEWSLETTER._ George, who will be 3 in July, is spending a few days a week at the preschool, starting

off with a couple of hours a day to settle him in. And the little royal went in well-prepared – his bright powder-blue backpack filled with essentials, such as indoor shoes and a change of

clothes, Livingston says, adding that there are many activities, like painting, where he could easily get wet. And mom Princess Kate, 34, who took the photographs of him to share with the

world on January 6, would have possibly added a piece of fruit. If he wanted to bring a book, George would be encouraged to do so, but he would have to leave it in a library area to be

shared and read by and with the other children, Livingston says. _For more about Prince George’s first days at school, see PEOPLE’s latest issue, on newsstands Friday_