About Us
Great Beginnings offers a warm and friendly learning environment in which your child can grow and develop confidently. Each child is encouraged to achieve their full potential through the spectrum of activities that they will be shown. An individual plan is made for each child, which includes their personal interests and stage of development. A group plan is also prepared to help each individual child to adapt to becoming one of a larger group through a variety of games. There are three classes at Great Beginnings.
There are sixteen two year olds with four members of staff (a ratio of 1:4) in one class. The other two classes have a mixed age group of three to six years and there are up to twenty-four children in each class with a minimum of three qualified staff in each class (a ratio of 1:8).
The Head
Wendy Innes grew up in the North Yorkshire countryside and moved to London as a young adult. After completing her Montessori training she gained early experience working with this age group in Montessori schools in London, Mexico City and California. On returning to London in 1982 she founded Great Beginnings.
Over the years she has maintained a close working relationship is the Maria Montessori Institute in Hampstead and in December 2008 was invited to sit on the Board of Directors. She has always held a very great interest in the development of children at this age and has seen the Montessori method be a vital part of children reaching their full potential.
Wendy Innes can be contacted at wendyinnes@greatbeginningsnursery.com
The Staff
There are currently 11 teaching staff and 2 part-time administrators. Names and photographs of all staff members can be found in the Entrance Hall to help parents recognise their child’s teacher.
School Day
Example from first half of Autumn Term 2020.