OUR STAFF

The Barnes Montessori staff are enthusiastic, responsible and caring. Between them they have a wealth of experience. All the staff have DBS checks, Safeguarding and First Aid training. They are a well-qualified team and all attend on-going professional training courses and Conferences.

ANNE-MARIE TRUE, BA (Hons) and Mont. Dip. - Principal and Proprietor since 1987

Married with three children all of whom attended the Barnes Montessori Nursery. Trained at St. Nicholas Montessori College, has a BA (Hons) degree in Early Childhood Studies and an Early Years Professional Status. She is the school’s Designated Safeguarding and Child Protection Officer. Former governor both of an independent school and maintained Primary School. Over the years has sat on various education committees including the Borough’s Education and Overview Scrutiny Committee and was (PVI) Private, Voluntary and Independent Schools Forum Representative. Anne-Marie has been London co-ordinator and National Secretary of the Montessori Early Years Forum (MEYF). Currently on the Montessori Evaluation and Accreditation Board (MEAB). One of the founder members of the Save Our Nurseries Campaign. Anne-Marie was awarded the 2011 Montessorian of the Year. She is a huge advocate of the Montessori approach to learning and development.

SARAH, Mont. Dip.

Sarah has a Montessori Diploma from Montessori Centre International. She began her Montessori career at Barnes Montessori, first as a student and then as a class teacher and key person. She left to spend a year teaching in Australia before returning to London where she taught for 5 years before starting a family. Sarah worked as a childminder before re. joining the Barnes Montessori Nursery in September 2016. As a class teacher she has a wealth of experience and organizational skills. Sarah is Deputy and the school’s Health and Safety Officer and Fire Warden.

ADELA, BSc. Mont. Dip. (EYE)

Adela has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from her native Romania and has a Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy - Birth to Seven (Early Years Educator) – from Montessori Centre International, London. She has worked in a variety of settings both in the UK and abroad. She has gained experience working with children with special needs when volunteering for a year in a school in South England. Adela continued to broaden her experience in London by implementing ABA techniques to children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). She is interested in art, nature and education. Adela joined the team in 2018.

ELEANOR, BSc. (Hons)

Eleanor joined the team in 2017. A Psychology graduate who specialised in Childhood Development. Eleanor went on to work in education and spent a year teaching in Beijing. She is currently doing her Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy: Early Years Educator from Montessori Centre International. She has specialised training in Attachment theory and is a registered Circle of Security parent facilitator. She is a very dedicated class teacher and key person.

LINDSEY, MCSP, Mont. Dip

Married with three children. Lindsey worked as a Paediatric Physiotherapist for 20 years. Two of her daughters attended a Montessori Nursery school and Lindsey has been interested in the Montessori approach since then. Lindsey has a Montessori Diploma in Early Childhood studies and is a registered Circle of Security parent facilitator. She is a Vice-Deputy, class teacher, key person and SENCO. As an Inclusion Hub Lindsey is the co-ordinator for the Barnes Montessori Nursery.

LOU, BA(Hons.)

Lou is a passionate teacher with 10 years experience in the education sector as a private tutor, working across a range of ages specialising in humanities subjects. She graduated from Christ Church College, Oxford in 2008 and from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2010. Lou is enthusiastic and creative. She is married and has a young daughter.

MICHELLE, Mont. Dip.

Joined the team, in January 2014. She has a Montessori Diploma from Montessori Centre International. Michelle has two grown-up daughters and creates and implements cooking activities for the children. She is the school’s co-ordinator for the Healthy Early Years London (HEYL) project.

SYLWIA, BA (Hons) and Mont. Dip.

Sylwia holds a BA (Hons) in Caring and Educational Pedagogy, a diploma in Montessori Theory and Methodology and an Early Years Professional Status. Furthermore, she holds a level 5 qualification in management and leadership. Sylwia has over 16 years of experience working with children; 12 of those spent managing various settings. She is passionate about all aspects of the Montessori philosophy and practice. She promotes bringing the inside out and the outside in; a learning approach which develops the child as a whole and nurtures the spirit of Montessori. She is working towards her level 3 forest school qualification.

TANYA, BSc (Hons) and Mont. Dip

Tanya is the Deputy Safeguarding and Child Protection Officer. She qualified as a Montessori Teacher in 2011.  Prior to that she worked in HR for a Financial Services firm.  After the birth of her first son, Hugo she decided to return to her passion for teaching and working with children and has never looked back.  Her second son, Otis, also attended a Montessori nursery, giving him the best start to his education. She has worked in Teddington and St Margarets and spent a year in Australia too.  Tanya is passionate about the Montessori approach and in 2018 she qualified as a Montessori Trainer to be able to provide professional development to others interested in the Montessori philosophy.   Tanya joined the team in 2019.

SPECIALIST TEACHERS

CHARLOTTE, Mont. Dip.

Charlotte worked at the school for almost 30 years and has a wealth of experience. She continues to have a strong association with the school and comes in occasionally in an advisory capacity. She is a Montessori Accreditation Assessor for Montessori Evaluation Accreditation Board (MEAB). She runs Parenting Sessions.

VICKIE (Dance/Movement)

Married with twin girls. Vickie originally qualified as a dance teacher with the National Association of Teachers of Dance, has a Dance Diploma from the University of London and qualified as an Exercise to Music Instructor with the YMCA. She has extensive experience teaching dance and exercise to children and adults. Her weekly sessions with the children incorporate exercises aimed at improving gross and fine motor skills and balance and coordination, along with creative movement for story-telling.

SAM, Mont. Dip

Sam Markusse (Mr Sam) grew up in the Netherlands and has been living in London since 2015. As a trained dramatherapist and Forest School leader he loves to combine his passion for stories and drama with the wonders of nature. 

Mr Sam has worked with children for 10 years and worked in different settings. Since living in England he has delivered outdoor education and Forest School. As Mr Sam says, Forest School gives children the freedom to explore, use their imagination and simply play in nature. This combination teaches children to be resilient, resourceful and kind whilst seeing the beauty of nature.