Children’s House

Clea joined the Maria Montessori School Bayswater Children's House in 2019. Clea is a Fine Art graduate from Leeds Arts University, with over five years’ experience working with young children. Prior to completing the 3 to 6 Diploma Course at MMI and working for the Maria Montessori School, Clea worked in education at Merchant Taylors Pre-Prep School and at Wetherby Pre-Prep. Clea values the strong foundation Montessori education provides the children and sees Montessori as a platform for the highest academic achievement and creativity later in life.

Cristina joined the Bayswater Children's House in September 2022 upon completing her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma at the Maria Montessori Institute in June that year. Cristina was born and raised in Rome, Italy, where she took the 0 to 3 Montessori Diploma Course at the Opera Nazionale Montessori. With nearly ten years’ experience in education, Cristina has worked with children from infancy to six years old in a variety of capacities across the globe, including Italy, Buenos Aires, The United States, and more recently in London.

Nihal has lunch with the Bayswater Children’s House children, supports the set up and tidying up process, and joins the Bayswater Children’s House and Elementary classes for playtime in the park.

Originally from Turkey, Nihal has lived in London for sixteen years. She has worked in childcare for over six years, looking after children ranging in age from two to fourteen years. Nihal loves spending time amidst nature, whether it’s a leisurely walk in the park or a hike through the countryside, and she feels time in the outdoors is essential to a child’s development. As a caregiver, Nihal’s passion lies in fostering a supportive and loving environment, allowing each child to explore their unique potential and flourish under the Montessori philosophy, and enjoys her time with the children in Bayswater and contributing to their growth, creativity, and happiness.

Rhianna joined the Maria Montessori School in September 2023, following her completion of the AMI 3-6 Diploma in London. She is currently a teacher in the Hampstead Children’s House Garden Class and is furthering her knowledge through a specialised course in Montessori and Learning Differences. This ongoing study aims to deepen her understanding of how Montessori materials can be made accessible and inclusive for all learners.

Before embarking on her journey in Montessori education, Rhianna obtained a Master’s degree in Modern Languages from the University of Edinburgh. She then relocated to Paris, where she worked as a freelance translator and embraced a dual role as a bookseller. This position afforded her the opportunity to satisfy her passion for literature while actively participating in book launches and author events.

Rhianna is deeply committed to Montessori’s child-centred philosophy and advocates for an educational approach that fosters holistic and intuitive child development. In her teaching role, she takes great pleasure in sharing her personal interests—gardening, sewing, cooking, and reading—with the children, enriching their classroom experience in meaningful and creative ways.

Kalamun was born and raised in London. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree with honours in Product Design, Kalamun designed for companies both in the UK and abroad in Hong Kong. She was involved in several child-led community projects and was an accomplished visual artist prior to finding her passion and purpose in Montessori education. Kalamun completed her AMI 3-6 Diploma course at the Maria Montessori Institute in London in June 2022 and joined the Hampstead Coach House in September that year. Kalamun has also previously worked in a supportive role for various Children’s Houses in the area. She loves creating materials to aid and ease the children’s understanding of new concepts, and her fun and friendly disposition allows her to engage and build connections with young children easily. Kalamun is inspired by nature, people, and learning itself. She loves travelling, exploring different cultures, languages, and cuisines, and bringing a little of that experience back to the children.

Ratna completed the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute in 2020, after relocating to London from Singapore. She joined the Hampstead Children's House Coach House in September that year, first as Classroom Assistant and later as Lead Teacher. Ratna was born and raised in India and obtained a degree in commerce from Calcutta University. Following University, Ratna worked in a school for underprivileged children in India, an experience which inspired her to pursue a career in education. Ratna brings with her over twenty years’ experience working in early years education.

Rebecca Livsey joined the Maria Montessori School Hampstead Garden Class in 2021. She was born in Bath into a large family, and, due to becoming an auntie at a young age, has always been surrounded by children. Rebecca is a skilled childcare professional with over ten years’ experience supporting, nurturing, and educating children. From nannying in Australia to teaching English in Thailand, Rebecca has worked in a variety of settings and loves the challenges and joy that comes with working with children every day. Rebecca's interest and commitment to supporting young children’s development led her to complete her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute and her study in Montessori pedagogy at the University of London. She loves the time she spends with the children and is also a trained singer who enjoys singing and sharing songs with the children.

Andrea has been leading the Notting Hill team for the past 3 years. She obtained a degree in Pre-School Teaching in 2017 and prior to completing the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute, Andrea gained experience working as a teacher in a nursery school and as a teacher in a school for children with special needs. On the weekends, Andrea leads a class for bilingual and multilingual children where they discover the beauty of the language and the culture of the Czech Republic.

Estefania graduated as an Early Year Teacher in 2010 and holds a Masters diploma in Social Education. Originally from Spain, Estefania moved to London in 2016, and since her arrival, Estefania has gained experience working with children in a variety of different capacities, including as a classroom assistant and a classroom teacher. Assisting and supporting children in their development has always been a passion for Estefania. Through her work in a Montessori school in Windsor several years ago, Estefania discovered the Montessori approach to education and completed her AMI 3 to 6 Diploma at the Maria Montessori School in 2022. She joined the Maria Montessori School in September that year, first as maternity cover at Crouch End and later as Children's House Spanish Teacher across all our sites.

Barbara Brait was born and raised in Italy, where she obtained her 0 to 3 Diploma with Opera Nazionale Montessori. Barbara went on to work in a bilingual Montessori environment for two years where she was lucky enough to work alongside teachers from different parts of the world. Through this experience, Barbara was inspired to teach abroad. She moved to London in 2016, at which time she enrolled in, and later completed, the AMI 3 to 6 Diploma Course at Maria Montessori Institute. Barbara enjoys continuing to expand her practice and understanding of how to better serve children and their developmental needs.

Paula Pérez-Martín was born and raised in Galicia, Northern Spain. As a young adult, Paula volunteered in her mother’s school, an experience which inspired her to complete her Bachelor's Degree in Early Years Education and later complete her Master’s Degree in Education. Paula has extensive experience in mainstream and international schools in Spain, Belgium, and the UK, where she worked in Oxford as well as London for the past eight years. Her Montessori journey began in Brussels, where she had the opportunity to assist in a French-Dutch Montessori school. Inspired to learn more about the method, Paula completed the 3 to 6 AMI Diploma Course at the Maria Montessori Institute. Paula’s experience has shaped her strong belief in the important role teachers play in helping to build the child's character, as well as develop independence, self-esteem, a passion for learning, and a love for others and the world. Paula fluently speaks Galician, Spanish, English, and French.