Pedagogical Leadership
What is Pedagogy?
It is a framework for the methods, concepts and practices which create a particular educational approach. With our leadership team's wealth of experience, combined with nearly 27 years of developing young children in Stamford, TCG has created a unique pedagogy which is constantly being refined and improved.
Claire - Founder/Montessori and Early Years Consultant and Researcher
Claire has been a qualified Montessori teacher and Nursery Nurse for over thirty years and has a Masters in Early Childhood Education. 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 Silver Lane. Claire set up The Ark Nursery 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 campaigning for better Govt funding for early years, and acts as a consultant to the 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 Outdoors Education. 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 ethos. This ethos is interested in the need for risk in play and encourages the children to safely explore their limits, increasing independence, self-motivation and respect. TCG understands the value in educating children from a young age to recognise risk in order to keep themselves safe.
Jo - TCG Group Manager
Jo was previously Manager in Stamford and was promoted in 2024 to the role of Group Manager across both our Stamford and Norwich settings. She has a Masters in Early Years and is trained as a forest school leader and a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo).
Annabelle - Nursery Manager
Annabelle joined the TCG team in September 2007 as a Level 3 Apprentice. During this time she was inspired by the Montessori approach so, subsequently, she worked towards a Montessori diploma. Annabelle is also a trained SENCo with an additional SEN Level 3 qualification and has extensive experience supporting children with a range of different medical conditions and learning and development needs.
Having experienced TCG as both a parent, to her two boys, and a professional, Annabelle is dedicated to providing every child with a supportive, opportunistic environment; nurturing them into confident, capable young people.
