A new pre-school has opened opposite a railway station in the heart of a town.

The Green Cave, a Montessori school, has expanded from a day nursery to include a new site in the Great Hall Arcade in Tunbridge Wells.

The pre-school includes a yoga and salt therapy room, a wet room and a cooking and art room for children aged three to four.

It opened on October 14 but the nursery has been running at its Vale Road site since 2012.

Owner, Denes Gal, originally started the business when he was looking for a nursery for his daughter.

What is a Montessori school?

This type of school uses the Montessori Method which was developed by Dr Maria Montessori in the early 20th century.

The approach involves a focus on child-centred learning where children learn through their own interests with a focus on self-directed and hands-on activities.

As a result, most of the toys inside the school are made from wood.

Meanwhile, a salt therapy room uses a machine which sends out fine particles of salt to help with breathing, getting rid of bacteria and strengthening immunity.

Nursery manager Tracy Watkins said: “I know the Montessori method is the best form of education and we’re the only fully Montessori nursery in Tunbridge Wells and the closest to the station.

“It’s a scientifically designed education system which promotes independence, gives freedom within limits and nurtures a child’s innate desire to learn.

“It has these specifically designed apparatus like a good, prepared environment so children can learn through their interests and at their own pace with a really high level of autonomy.”

The idea is that children go to the shelf, take their activity on a tray, go to a child-size table and chair and will be “engrossed” in their activity until they are finished with it. Each activity is designed so the child can self-correct.

Although Montessori is well-known in London, as more people move from the city to the countryside there is a greater demand for this type of institution.

“Parents really want a good form of education for their children, so I think that’s why more people are hearing about Montessori because of the way it is designed,” Tracy added.

Another noticeable element about being in a Montessori nursery is it will be “really quiet” while some pre-school’s may be a bit “wild and crazy”, said Tracy.

In total, the Green Cave has four fully-trained Montessori teachers.

Mum-of-four Tracy said: “I want to prepare this new generation so that they are independent, strong, happy, loving children.”

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Grammy-winning singer Taylor Swift and actor George Clooney are some of many famous people who have attended a Montessori nursery.

Both The Green Cave nursery and pre-school are open from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday.