The Sunday Tribune has identified 135 montessori schools in the Dublin area alone which have failed to register with the board and are therefore not subject to its inspections and standards.

"The problem is that a lot of parents don't realise that a montessori school and a creche calling itself montessori are two completely different things, " said Noelle McEvoy of the IMEB. "Our teachers are trained as educators and are there to help the children learn. They're not a child-minding service.

Parents may hear the word montessori and believe their child is learning when that may not actually be happening."

IMEB has 95 montessori schools registered around the country, 48 of which are in Dublin. But there are hundreds more creches across the nation which include the word 'montessori' in their name or in their adverts in an attempt to cash in on the positive connotations associated with the method.

With high childcare costs already a serious issue for parents, IMEB says it is imperative that they check the credentials of a creche claiming to provide a montessori education.

"A registered montessori school is recognised by the Department of Education and we inspect them, " said McEvoy. "We ensure their teachers are trained and have the necessary qualifications and that the school is using the right materials. Other montessori schools may have qualified teachers, but then also they may not. Parents need to be aware of that."

While creches are regulated by the HSE, there is no system in place to ensure that those claiming to have montessori credentials are checked out.

Montessori is a specific education, catering for children from the ages of three to 12 years in Ireland and up to the age of 18 in many other countries. It is based on individual attention, allowing a child to develop at a pace suitable to themselves, with extensive use of learning materials.

"A lot of people now recognise the benefits of children having a montessori education and are keen to give it to their child, if only up to the age of five or six, " said McEvoy. "It is a phenomenal form of education that allows the child to come to their own understanding of each subject, to let them take it apart and see for themselves what it's all about. Parents should be sure that this is what their child is getting."