The Village Montessori

Mel

Originally a shepherd, Melanie discovered Montessori when her daughter attended The Village Montessori some 30 years ago. She is committed to the educational philosophy of the Montessori method and to following the natural development of the child. Melanie strives to create a loving, secure environment where all children can flourish. She is a passionate conservationist and her hobbies include hill walking, foreign films and adventuresome dining.

Liz

After graduating, Liz worked for a youth development charity for a number of years, this is where she discovered that working with children was really where her heart was. She went on to train as a Primary School teacher and worked in the local state sector for many years before having her own children. When they were small she came across the Montessori philosophy and started following them at home before sending her first child to The Village Montessori. Liz loves learning and decided to delve deeper into the Montessori philosophy and has gone on to add a Montessori qualification to her PGCE and MA in Education. Outside of motherhood and Montessori life she can probably be found sewing, walking, gardening or cooking. She particularly loves nature and enjoys sharing this passion with all of those around her which has led to her becoming the Sustainability lead.

Nanami

Nanami is an experienced Montessori teacher and life-long student. Beginning her training in special educational needs, she discovered Montessori philosophy and gained an early years degree. Always looking for moments of creativity, inspiration, wonder and awe alongside my teachers (big and small humans) and the world. Nanami enjoys everything to do with food, solo travels include Japan, Vietnam, Australia and reading contemporary literature.

Emma

Emma is a dancer and choreographer with a strong foundation in both performance and teaching. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Contemporary Dance from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2021 and since then has been dedicated to sharing her love of dance with others. Emma’s teaching experience spans from early childhood education to dance for older adults and public engagement projects and she has had the privilege of performing in numerous productions, including East Wall (2019) Hofesh Shechter Company, Die Zauberflöte (2021) and Nabucco (2022) at The Royal Opera House, and productions at the Bregenzer Festspiele (2022-23).

Becky

Becky has worked with children for over two decades. After gaining a BA Honours in Education at the University of York she went on to do a PGCE in Primary Education at the University of Manchester. She taught in various schools in Northwest England before taking her final role as a Deputy Head in Islington. Though her career in mainstream state education may have ended with the birth of her daughter, her passion for child development did not. During the six wonderful years of stay-at-home-parenting and acquiring a Cockapoo, it began again in a different form. After coming to visit the Village Montessori one open day in 2021, attending the Toddler Group for a year, spending two years dropping her daughter there and not wanting to leave, her fate was sealed. She retrained as a Montessori Guide, began her new career here in September 2025 and has also taken on the role of Inclusion Lead (SENCo) within the setting. Becky enjoys nothing more than lying on a patch of grass reading an escapist novel, surrounded by the noise of her family playing. One day she’ll finish that book!