A Journey Full Circle: From Montessori Child to Montessori Trainer

My Montessori journey started many years ago in 1995 when I joined the Maria Montessori School in London as a young child. At the time my mother was training in Montessori under the guidance of Lynne Lawrence (now Executive Director of the Maria Montessori Institute and AMI).

Both of my mother’s sisters had gained an AMI 3-6 Diploma in Pakistan and encouraged her to discover what this special way of being with children was all about. She left the Institute with an unwavering determination to open a school, and I left aged five with a solid foundation thanks to all the remarkable women who supported my early development.

We opened our family school, Step By Step Montessori in 2004 in a church hall with just four children. News spread quickly in the community, especially when parents would see my mum carrying all sorts of beautiful materials and items for the school which sparked their interest to register their children. We then spent six years redeveloping an old nursery and opened a purpose-built Montessori in Mill Hill, London in 2012.

Meanwhile, I was finishing my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Philosophy when my interest to work with young children naturally unfolded. I decided to undertake the AMI Diploma 3-6 running over three summers to see if this would become my path whilst I was doing my MA in Early Childhood Studies and working at our family school. I still vividly remember leaving the Institute after my first day in 2014. I felt deeply stirred that this was my calling and the work I was meant to do in my lifetime. This feeling has only deepened over the last decade. I gained my 3-6 diploma in 2016 which was such a happy day and then went straight to work running our Montessori school alongside my parents.

Working with the children was such an adventure. The principles I had learnt about in training helped me navigate many different challenges whilst keeping me firmly rooted to my mission to support the natural development of each human being. I began to see how transformative this work is for every individual, at each stage and plane of development. What I learnt in my Diploma ricocheted into every element of my life. I was hungry to learn more so I undertook the Post Diploma Observation Course in 2017. At the time, it was run by Karen Pearce who was also my teacher in Hampstead in the 90s. It was a very special experience to learn from someone who had supported me in my childhood. I felt a debt of gratitude towards all the women who tirelessly worked in this field, and it spurred me to keep on serving the children and families in my community.

In 2022 another tenacious seed took root as I decided to undertake the AMI Diploma 0-3 in London over two summers. This was such an interesting time as I went into the Diploma after nearly a decade of experience working with children. I could see how the same principles applied themselves so seamlessly for the very young child. I loved every minute of the course, the group we formed was so supportive, and I was extremely grateful to gain this knowledge. This is such a significant stage of development, as Maria Montessori said, “the best for the smallest”.

I am delighted to embark on my newest adventure, to become a trainer at the 3-6 level here at the Maria Montessori Institute in London. It is such an exciting time to now spread the powerful words and incredible legacy of Maria Montessori to adults to help them create nurturing environments where all children can thrive. My journey has come full circle.