Our founder’s journey into early childhood education began over a twenty years ago, teaching English to preschool and primary-aged children in Moscow. After graduating from UCL, she spent ten years working with young learners and later coordinated a TEFL programme for refugee and migrant children, matching volunteers with those in need of one-to-one language support. It was through her own experience of becoming a parent that she discovered the Montessori approach—an encounter that reinforced how she understood children and sparked an immense interest in their development.
She went on to train as a Montessori Early Years Educator (0–6) through MCI International in London, whilst working at The Children’s House International Kindergarten, an AMI-aligned Montessori kindergarten in Vienna, and founded dugu, a parent–toddler Montessori group whilst on maternity leave with her second child. The arrival of her third and fourth children led her to embark upon the AMI Assistants to Infancy training (0–3) through the Montessori Institute Prague, she brings both practical experience and deep theoretical understanding to the work of early years education.
As a mother of bilingual children—one of whom speaks three languages—and a speaker of four languages herself, she brings a deep awareness of the needs of multilingual families. She understands how to support children who are still acquiring English and is passionate about creating an environment where all languages and backgrounds are respected, celebrated, and gently supported. Her inclusive approach reflects the Montessori principle of meeting each child where they are, allowing them to grow with confidence, no matter their starting point. Monti&Me celebrates the richness that multilingualism brings to life, and supports every child in developing their voice with confidence.
Monti&Me was born out of a desire to offer local families the kind of calm, respectful, and joyful learning environment she saw transform her own children and the many others she had the joy to work with. With growing demand in the area the school offers an authentic Montessori alternative that supports emotional well-being, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.