Meet Our Team

All our staff are mature, well-travelled, degree-educated professionals with a passion for Montessori education, a love of children and a wealth of life experiences to share with them. They are Montessori trained and continue to develop their early years expertise through regular CPD training opportunities.

Patricia Thornton
Owner / Manager

Trish has worked in The Montessori Nursery School since 2012 when she undertook the teaching practice element of the diploma in Montessori Early Years Teaching before becoming manager in 2015. She is a passionate advocate of the Montessori approach in supporting young children at this crucial stage of their development having seen the multiple benefits of this approach with her own child.  Trish holds a degree in Land Economics and professional qualifications in commercial property investment having worked for 9 years as a chartered surveyor for a UK pension fund following graduation. Before becoming a Montessori teacher, Trish lived and worked in SE Asia for 10 years where she jointly owned and ran a small tourism business.  She returned to her city of birth in 2011 and after managing the Nursery for 2.5 years,  took over as owner of the Nursery from Judy Park in December 2017.

Camille Alleyne

Montessori Teacher

Camille’s interest in Montessori started when she witnessed her nieces and nephew attending Montessori nurseries and the benefits of this education first hand. She qualified as a Montessori teacher in 2013 and worked in two London Montessori nurseries after taking a career change from office / facilities management in the financial industry. Camille also holds a Masters in Early Childhood Education from the London Institute of Education, an honours degree in Media studies and Languages and is fluent in French. She moved to Scotland and joined the team in 2017.

Lisa Marwick

Teacher & Early Years Practitioner

Lisa has a postgraduate certificate in Primary Education with a specialism in Spanish. She first discovered Montessori through supply work in a Montessori nursery in Glasgow and was so impressed by what the children could do and how successful this methodology was that she went on to work in that setting and undertake her Montessori training. After 10 years there, she decided to return to her home city of Edinburgh to be closer to family and  joined our nursery in 2017.  Lisa also holds a degree in Hispanic Studies, is fluent in Spanish, and alongside enjoying her work in Montessori she loves teaching Spanish to both adults and children.

Julie Swire

Creative Learning Specialist

Julie is our Creative Learning specialist, working with the children in our afternoon Drama and Nature Club sessions. Julie has a Masters in English Literature, and has spent the last 8 years developing her understanding of the Montessori approach, outdoor learning, and art therapies in the Early Years. Julie has a passion for storytelling, drama, art and nature, and has played an integral role in developing Jupiter Artland's celebrated Littlesparks art programme. Julie's work at Jupiter Artland and in theatre, informs the classes she leads with us. Her passion for child-centred education using the Montessori approach, was sparked by her own children's experience at The Montessori Nursery School.

Students

The school occasionally accommodates students undertaking the teaching practice element of their Montessori training. Prior to teaching practice, students have usually completed a year’s course in the Montessori method of education.  Students are well supervised and undergo the  usual disclosure checks applicable to all staff.

Join our team

   We welcome interest from Montessori trained teachers at all age levels. If you would like to be part of our respected and happy team, please send in your CV and a covering letter to ​info@themontessorinurseryschool.com
13a Murrayfield Avenue, Edinburgh, EH12 6AU     Open term-time, 8.15 - 15.00     ​0131 346 8921