Meet Our Team
Sarah Herbert
Principal
I have been running Elmwood since January 1986 - the funny thing is that I only thought I would do this for a couple of years! Then I realised what an important and rewarding job this is. I love welcoming new and returning families to Elmwood and getting to know them all - each child brings something new with them, and I am still learning all the time.
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I have have two grown-up daughters (who came to Elmwood when they were little!) and two grandchildren, and I love spending time with them all. I also love cooking, art, dance, speaking French and swimming - but just need to get myself to the pool much more frequently!
Mrs Maggie
Co-Manager & Montessori Teacher
(Montessori Diploma)
Mrs Lisa
Co-Manager & Montessori Teacher
Early Years Professional
Setting SENCO
(Montessori Diploma, BA Hons Early Years & Childcare)
Mrs Mita
Montessori Teacher
(Montessori Diploma)
I have been working at Elmwood since 2006, starting as a Montessori assistant, then on to group teacher and now also Manager. Working with children brings me so much joy and I love the fact that not a single day is a dull one. The best part is seeing a child's happiness when they master a new skill or achieve their own goal ("Help me to do it myself"). I love their pure and honest view of the world. I also love looking after the allotment in our outdoor classroom.
Things I like: discovering new places on family trips (with my husband and son); walking in nature; reading; journaling; mince pies; my Filofax organiser and the expression "ever so slightly"!
Most of my childhood was spent outdoors, climbing trees, building dens and making mud pies! I was first introduced to the Montessori approach as a nanny aged 16. Forty years later, I am still working with children but now as a Montessori-trained practititioner and Early Years Professional. For the past 27 years I have been at Elmwood and Meadows. I love ending every day with a smile, knowing that I have made a small difference and given the children a chance to experience some of the same enjoyment I had as a child. I work with a great team and together we support each child to grow in confidence and independence and develop a real love of learning.
Out of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, going on long country walks, paddle boarding and rowing on the River Thames. I am also a trained Bowen Technique therapist. ..
I have been at Elmwood for the past 15 years. Prior to that I lived in Mumbai, Nairobi and Hong Kong. I am a graduate with LMC and AMI Montessori diplomas and am passionate about the Montessori approach to learning.
Every morning I am excited to go to school and meet my mini-doctors, bus drivers, foremen and princesses, and to negotiate with future world leaders who think "It's all mine!". I get to see life fresh, simple and untainted through their eyes.
I love to spend my spare time with my family - my husband and two grown-up twin daughters.
Miss Fani
Assistant Teacher
(BSc Early Childhood Education, QTS)
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Mrs Monika
Assistant Teacher
(CACHE level 3 Diploma, Children & Young People's Workforce)
Mrs Dawn
Montessori Teacher &
Learning Support
(Montessori Diploma)
I joined Elmwood in 2015, first as a volunteer and then as an Assistant Teacher. I have a BA in Early Years Education and an MA in Art and Design in Education from UCL's Institute of Education. I also run the Fantastic Art sessions at Elmwood, which are lots of fun and involve sensory, process-based experiences - the children absolutely love them!
Outside school, I do Greek tutoring for children and teenagers. In my spare time, I love going for walks around London, meeting my friends and visiting art exhibitions. I live in Camden with my boyfriend Theo and our cat George.
Eleven years ago, I came to Meadows Montessori to drop off a child I was looking after, and fell in love with the school. I'm so happy I could join as an Assistant Teacher more than 7 years ago, and I moved across to Elmwood in September 2022. I have an CACHE level 3 Diploma for Children and Young People and love working with children, getting to know them, and helping them to play, make friends and learn new skills. I also love their sense of humour!
I love spending time with my family both in London and in Poland, and enjoy cooking and eating (just like our new puppy, Bella!), going to concerts and reading a good book.
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I'm Mrs Dawn aka Mrs Dawnie! I have been a Montessori teacher at Meadows and Elmwood for 25 year and absolutely love my job. I couldn't or wouldn't contemplate teaching anywhere else!
My other passion is animals, and I have my own pet-setting business as well as being a Bowen Technique therapist for dogs and humans.
My hobbies include cycling, kayaking, going to the theatre and of course walking, training and playing with my two rescue dogs, Wulfie and Teagan. I live in Twickenham with my husband and fur babies.
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Miss Tasha
Assistant Teacher
Currently on secondment to the Royal Navy.