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Redefining Cosmic Education: For Today's Child |
The conference will open with a Keynote Performance. Enjoy a light-hearted journey through the first two planes of human development with Michelle Wisbey, Sarah Rowledge and Georgina Hood, who will set the scene for our day of professional exploration and discovery. |
Speakers - alphabetical |
Dr Yemi Afolabi Voices and Visions of Montessori Elementary Teachers. From her research, Yemi Afolabi will discuss her findings from the revelations of Montessori elementary teachers in the UK. Listen to what they have to say. A trained Montessorian at the early childhood and elementary levels, Yemi recently completed a professional doctorate at the University of East London. Her thesis explored the understanding, perspectives and experiences of Montessori elementary teachers in the UK. |
Sue Atkins Navigating the Digital Jungle Together How Montessori Teachers Can Confidently Support Parents of Children Aged 0–6 Sue Atkins is a parenting expert, author and broadcaster. A former Deputy Headteacher, she brings decades of experience working with children, families and educators. Sue is passionate about supporting Montessori principles in modern family life, particularly around early years development, wellbeing and helping parents navigate technology with confidence and care. She hosts the Navigating the Digital Jungle podcast and speaks widely on nurturing children in a rapidly changing world. |
Lynnette began her journey in Early Years education in maintained and Montessori nursery schools in London. A passion for empowering young learners led her to collaborate on a research project with Professor John Siraj-Blatchford from which SchemaPlay was born. As director and co-founder, Lynnette inspires educators around the world through the SchemaPlay training programme, a transformative approach to free-flow play that nurtures children’s ideas, investigations and explorations. |
Lynnette Brock
Gillian Corke Montessori learning communities for home-educated children are a growing alternative to the traditional school model. Legally structured yet bypassing heavy bureaucracy, they offer a curriculum for developing resilient, curious and grounded learners - supporting children’s development, parental wellbeing and family balance. Gillian Corke is a Montessori elementary educator, instrumental music teacher, Montessori Sports Ambassador and Certified Trainer with the Positive Discipline Association. She blends these experiences at The Hearth and Horizon learning community to offer children deep learning with joyful connection to the world. |
Simona da Silva Lourenco
Around the world in 170 days. With the curiosity of Jules Verne's explorers, children are presented with the interconnectedness of the universe through a sensorial world tour. Discover how observation and planning provided a school years’ worth of culture and creativity.
With over 15 years of experience in early childhood education, Simona is a passionate Montessori practitioner, Positive Psychology coach, and curriculum innovator. She is the founder of Professor Happy, a coaching program that blends Montessori philosophy with Positive Psychology to support children’s identity development, emotional intelligence, and character strengths. This experience has given her a unique map of children’s internal working models, which helps her guide them and design an exciting curriculum that interweaves Cosmic Education with self-awareness and human potential.
Rowena Hicks
Simple steps to reduce stress. This interactive and fun workshop offers a chance to pause and focus on your own wellbeing. You'll explore research-based strategies to challenge unhelpful habits and mindsets, discovering practical ways to manage stress more effectively. The session will help you reconnect with why you chose to work with young children and examine how wellbeing can become embedded in your setting's culture rather than just an afterthought.
Rowena Hicks has over 30 years of experience in education, supporting staff and students to recognise their strengths, believe in their value, and thrive. Beginning her career as a primary class teacher in Brixton, London with one of the most diverse classes imaginable, she quickly developed a passion for working with vulnerable children and those with additional needs. Rowena holds a master’s degree in Inclusion and is especially passionate about speaking to and coaching staff to build confidence, shift mindsets, and see their daily impact.
Georgina Hood OBE
As founder and principal of Paint Pots, Georgina's history in Early Years Education spans over three decades. Over the years, her blend of creative, heuristic play and Montessori has been the foundation of the Paint Pots settings and in 2023, Georgina was awarded an OBE for Services to Early Years Education and to the Community in London.
Kate Larrson
The Evolving Adult: Self-reflection and Leadership in Cosmic Education. As a component of the prepared environment, Montessori educators are required to be continuous students of social science. Modern communication has made it is easier to keep abreast of issues affecting human development, however the threat of overload is never far away. In this session, Kate will guide with ideas and strategies that can offer the understanding, healing and self-renewal that adults need in order to serve children well.
Kate has delivered workshops nationally and internationally, and led webinars on key topics including parent partnership, Montessori at home, and gender equality in the early years. Her writing has been featured in Montessori International and Direction magazine, contributing thoughtful insights to the wider Montessori community.
Rebecca Livsey
Practical Life - Preparing for the Cosmos. Today's child is perhaps exposed to more sensory stimuli than ever before - how are they to develop meaning from all of these perceptions? Join Beckie to explore how Practical Life activities offer children knowledge and understanding as prerequisites for thriving in real and virtual worlds.
Beckie Livsey is an experienced educator who has enjoyed more than ten years of nurturing young children, in the UK and abroad. Now in her fifth year of working as a Lead Teacher in a Children's House at the Maria Montessori Institute, Beckie is dedicated to creating a warm, engaging and enriching learning environment for every child in her care.
Beverley Maragh
Hello World, Hello Carers. From settling-in to graduation, Montessori educators guide children and families through a life-series of separations and attachments that aim to develop love and respect for humanity and for the universe. Find out how Montessori Nido and Infant Communities set society’s youngest citizens on the path to cosmic agency.
Beverley first trained as a Nursery Nurse and has worked with children and families for more than 30 years. She holds a BA in Early Childhood Studies, AMI Diplomas at the 0-3 and 3-6 levels, a diploma in Antenatal Care and is currently in training as an AMI 0-3 trainer. Beverly was the Montessori guide on the Born Inside project, a UK initiative to support women serving prison sentences with their babies. As a trained doula, she volunteers with Birth Companions, a charity which supports disadvantaged women.
Margaret Oliver
The Effects of Music on Young Children: From Montessori via Kodály into the 21st Century. This session will examine Dr. Montessori’s approach to music and the young child, and then explore the philosophy of Zoltán Kodály, who was very interested in the problems of music education. His work had a profound effect both inside and outside his home country of Hungary.
After reading music at Durham University, Margaret taught music in secondary schools. Subsequently, she retrained as a Montessori teacher and worked for 23 years across the 3 to 6 curriculum, with special responsibility for music education. Though now retired from teaching, she continues to pursue her love of choral singing and currently chairs the Board of Trustees at the British Kodály Association.
What does Cosmic Education look like during the Absorbent Mind plane? Share this chance to explore and discuss, in practical terms through shared experiences and real-life examples, how you might develop cosmic education principles in your early years environment and at home. Sarah Olley and Michela Castellarin share their expertise and invite you to create ways to further develop children’s discoveries, respond to questions and support their observations of the world around them. Sarah Olley was lucky enough to have a Montessori education from 2 to 9 years of age. She began her Montessori career in 1988, tutoring, lecturing and supporting student wellbeing. She was part of the team that developed the Montessori Early Years Educator programme and has owned her own small Nido and Children’s House.
Both Sarah and Michela are members of the team at Collaborative Montessori. |
Michela Castellarin has been working with the Montessori community as lecturer, academic tutor, school support and accreditation officer for the last 20 years, both in the UK and internationally.Her work has always been driven by the belief that the Montessori approach and cosmic education are the means through which children can realise their full potential and are truly valued for their uniqueness.
Laura Perfetti Cultivating Connection with Families. Working in partnership with parents is a fundamental pillar of Montessori education, rooted in the belief that the child thrives when the adults around them work collaboratively, consistently and compassionately. This partnership goes far beyond sharing information: it is about building a relationship of trust, openness and mutual respect, where both educators and parents recognise that they hold vital knowledge about the child. Previously, Laura managed a Montessori nursery with an innovative on-site co-working space for parents. She led various staff and parent initiatives in this unique and vibrant community and was recognised for her impact with the Best UK Parental Engagement Award at the NMT Nursery Awards in 2022. Laura continues to champion collaboration between educators, parents, and children to foster environments where every child can thrive. |
Sarah Rowledge Sarah set up the Absolute Angels Montessori nursery in April 1999, followed by a Montessori Primary school. She is Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Montessori Early Childhood Studies degree at ARU and has a love of training adults, hoping to inspire them in their own practice with children. |
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In 1994, Len left the British army following a 27 year career in military music, which included 17 years as a Music Director and founded the Len Tyler Music School, which focussed initially on early years and primary music education. Since 2000, Len has been part of the British Kodály Academy, and was appointed regional coordinator for Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Len has led numerous musicianship and teacher training workshops in the UK and other countries, reaching schools, music services and other organisations. He continues to promote quality music education whenever the opportunity arises. He has written a series of six books of musicianship training containing 222 music reading exercises and 180 two part exercises. Len has also written a series of 12 articles on early years/primary music education contained in two volumes. |
Len Tyler
Dr Michelle Wisbey Michelle has worked in the Montessori community for over 30 years. As well as developing and leading the Montessori degrees at Anglia Ruskin University, she owns five nurseries, so brings both academic and practical experience to her role. |
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