In May 1989, a small group of parents began working to set up a Montessori school in the Mana area. Many hours of work followed before Mana Montessori opened on 21 May 1990. 

For almost nine years the school operated in the St. James’ Church Hall in Spinnaker Drive, Whitby, in premises it had to share with other church and community groups.  The fundraising and hard work continued until the school was in a position to build its own premises on land in Albatross Close, Whitby, which opened in January 1999.