A little about me
Teaching, working with young children and leading a team of educators are integral parts of my life. I took my BEd in Early Childhood Education at Oudtshoorn Teachers College and started in a classroom in 1980. I have not really stopped since. My passion sits in the initial developmental phase, ages two to eight, and my focus is on the early learning skills that all successful learning is built on.
Along the way I was a Year 4 teacher and then principal at Berghof Primary School, taught early years in Doha and at Victoria English School in the UAE, and in 2015 opened a nursery of my own. Derby Nursery grew into a small institute where children — including children with a range of special needs — got a proper foundation. The parents were part of it: I trained them, and they trusted me with the part of childhood you only get once.
Our children left able to read, write and manage some advanced maths, and they went off to school expecting to enjoy it. That is the outcome I care about most.
I wrote a ten-module curriculum for training parents and teachers, and three books — guides for the parents and teachers doing this work. I want to reach as many mothers and schools as I can. Since 2021 I have been teaching online, internationally, from my home in South Africa.
Where I have worked, recently
Online tutor, international
One-to-one early years teaching online, available most days and planned around each child. I am happy to teach small groups in person as well.
Founder & Director, Derby Nursery, UAE
Founded the nursery and wrote its play-based curriculum, policies and assessment systems. Profitable in its first year; 80% of children surpassed their developmental milestones, and schools approached us to admit them. Awarded a trophy for contributions to early years development in the UAE.
Early Years Teacher & Head of Foundation Stage, Victoria English School, UAE
Received the Best Teacher Award each year and was promoted to Head of Foundation Stage. Two of my pupils earned Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards.
Early Years Teacher, The Cambridge School Doha, Qatar
Early years classes, with teaching adapted to each child's needs.
Principal, Berghof Primary School, South Africa
Ran the school and its academic programme, after five years teaching Year 4 there.
Qualifications
BEd in Early Childhood Education — Oudtshoorn Teachers College
Cache 5 Management Training — United Kingdom qualification, taken with Arabian Child, 2017
Training in phonics and early development in the UAE, plus workshops and courses at Ajman University, Fujairah, Al Ain, Sharjah and Dubai.
Speaking and advising
Guest speaker at the SPEA forum on Early Childhood Education in June 2019, with an award of acknowledgement.
Selected to SPEA's principals' council, contributing to early childhood education policy.
A medal and many certificates for performance and outcomes in early years education.
Author of three books for parents and teachers: Different Early Childhood Development and Learning, Early Learning at Home and First Steps to Success.
If any of this is useful to you — a pupil, a school, a publisher — I would like to hear from you.
Get in touch