Meet us
Claire - Founder/Montessori and Early Years Consultant and Researcher
Claire has been a qualified Montessori teacher and Nursery Nurse for over twenty years. Claire's career with children began when she volunteered as an aid worker in a Romanian orphanage. Following her training she worked in, and managed several nurseries before working as a lecturer of the Montessori Method for London Montessori Centre both in the UK and Asia. Claire worked as an Early Years Consultant for London Montessori Centre until she set up TCG in 1998 in Stamford. Claire set up The Ark Nursery in Stamford in 2006, where she also worked until early 2013. Claire studied Naturopathy and Nutrition at the London at the College of Naturopathic Medicine, and she has qualified as a Naturopath with a special interest in family nutrition for health. Claire spends most of her time researching children's health and education and bringing innovative ideas to the nursery and spent a sabbatical researching education at Bali Green School in Indonesia for several months. This amazing experience of outdoors and hands-on, nature-based learning influences much of our approach. Her research continued around Australia and New Zealand, visiting schools and educators while road-schooling her own children. She is passionate about enquiry-based learning, and bases her ethos on the fact that children are intrinsically motivated to understand the environment around them. Claire is currently studying Mindfulness and its application in early years, and acts as a consultant to the Norfolk and Romania-based FARA charity which supports Romanian orphans and young people.
Ed - Founder/Bushcraft and Forest School Teacher
Ed has spent most of his career working on outdoor magazines such as TRAIL and Country Walking. His career has led him to spend large amounts of time outdoors and under canvas, lead treks in Europe and test mountain equipment. He is both Bushcraft and Forest School trained, and a member of the Institute for Outdoor Learning. Ed completed the ‘Green Educator Course’ at The Green School in Bali, Indonesia in June 2013 and he brings exceptional knowledge and experience to our Outdoor Education and Forest School. Ed is interested in the benefits of managed risk in play and encourages the children to safely explore their limits, increasing independence, self-motivation and respect, as well as enabling them to recognise risk in order to keep themselves safe.
Charlotte Holmes - Acting Manager
Following the completion of her undergraduate degree, Charlotte spent time travelling the world and working with a vast range of families and young children on cruise liners. Working with babies and young children sparked a love for Early Years which prompted her to complete her Early Years Teacher Training. This was further fuelled through time spent working in Italy and Tanzania teaching English in kindergarten schools.
From her experience in Italy, and inspired by Reggio Emilia and her passion for the outdoors, Charlotte returned to the UK and managed a small nursery in south Norfolk.
The birth of her son and daughter has amplified Charlotte's sheer admiration for child-led play and the importance of Early Childhood Learning. As an Educator and as a mother, she feels incredibly passionate about ensuring all children are given the opportunity to build resilience, confidence, collaborative skills and to facilitate their own learning in a carefully-prepared environment. We see children thrive by enabling them to be little.
