LO started a new Montessori school in September and I noticed that the before and aftercare teachers (different than her certified Montessori school day teacher) are completely hands-off. The kids play with the toys in the before/after care room and the teachers supervise but don't participate. (In fact, in one instance, I noticed that a child was trying to engage with the teacher and the teacher was trying to ignore them... this actually made me kind of upset, but it was a one off incident.)

In her previous daycare, there was no delineation between "school day time" and "after school time" so the teachers were the same all day and they were much more engaging with the kids, playing with them, talking with them, etc.

Is this different because this is a Montessori school and they want the kids to be independent? Or are the teachers just "not that into it"?