OUR STAFF

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

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.

MARY-CLARE DOLLARD, FD, Mont. Dip. (Deputy)

Mary-Clare joined the team in 2012 having previously done some of her training with us. She received the Bloomfield Award (2013) for outstanding effort and achievement on the Foundation Degree from Montessori Centre International. She is a class teacher and keyperson. Mary-Clare is the Deputy Safeguarding and Child Protection Officer and the school’s Equality and Diversity Co-ordinator. She is Makaton trained. She is enthusiastic and has a passion for music and the arts. Her life changing experience working in a leprosy colony in India confirmed her love of working with children.

KIM MACKAY (Vice-Deputy)

Married with two children. Joined in 2009 but has been associated with the school for a number of years. Kim has Montessori training from Montessori Centre International and is a class teacher and keyperson. She is one of the school’s SENCO’s. Kim is exceptionally creative and trained in Fine Arts at Goldsmith College prior to a career in Theatre Design. Kim has a great love of the outdoors and leads on setting up the outside classroom with her wealth of ideas.

LINDSEY HAYWARD, 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 class teacher and key person and one of the school’s SENCOs.

SARAH FRANKLIN, 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 keyperson. 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 for a few years taking a break when she had her third child. She returned to join the Barnes Montessori team in September 2016 and currently works part-time.

ELEANOR HAYWARD, BSc (Hons)

Eleanor joined the team in 2017. A Psychology graduate who specialised in Childhood Development. Eleanor went on to work in education and recently returned from a year teaching in Beijing. She has Montessori training from Montessori Centre International as well as specialised training in Attachment theory. She is a class teacher and keyperson.

MICHELLE PETERS, Mont. Dip.

Joined the team in January 2014. She has a Montessori Diploma. Michelle has two grown-up daughters and creates and implements cooking activities for the children.

COLETTE JOYCE

Joined in 2008. Married with two daughters. She works full time. Colette is the school’s Health and Safety Office. She also has responsibility for Risk Assessments and is a Fire Warden.

JUSTYNA DIENNET, Mont. Dip.

Joined in January 2018. She has a Montessori Diploma from Montessori Centre International and has gained early years experience at another Montessori setting. Married with two children. Justyna likes to focus on learning through creative processes.

ADELA HAMZA, Mont. Dip.

Adela graduated from Montessori Centre International. She has worked in a variety of settings both in the UK and in her native country. She 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.

Specialist teachers

CHARLOTTE WHITE, 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 MEAB. She runs Parenting Sessions.

Music (EUGENIE AITCHISON) – BA (Hons) in Music and Italian specialising in music performance.

Eugenie has worked in a variety of settings both in the UK and abroad. She also teaches children with differing additional needs both in mainstream and specialist schools. Trained at the Guildhall in 2013 as a music therapist.

Dance/Movement (VICKIE MEHTA)

Vickie qualified as an Exercise to Music Instructor with the YMCA and has extensive experience teaching dance and exercise to children and adults.

French (SYLVIE DIEU)

Sylvie has been in London for 20 years. She is an experienced MLF teacher with Montessori training. She comes with all the necessary DBS checks.

Forest School Leader (TOM SMYTHE)

Tom has a Foundation Degree in Early Years Education from Roehampton University and hopes to continue his studies to gain a full BA honours. He holds a level 3 Forest School qualification and has Bushcraft competency training via the Institute of Outdoor Learning. He works with Tree House Learning. He has many years experience working initially with nursery school children and ‘out of school’ clubs with primary school children, including scout leader with both beavers and cubs. He is enthusiastic and passionate about the “outdoors”.