We have a team of experienced teachers,
covering Montessori qualifications, dance, musical expertise and teaching a second language.
Annie Fishleigh
I am the directress of Smart Start and work some days in Scarborough and some days in Shenton Park.
After having my first baby, Sarah,
I became very interested in Montessori education and received my diploma of
Montessori nursery education (London Montessori Centre) in 1990. I also hold
a postgraduate certificate of Education ( Bristol University), majoring in
Chemistry as I had studied medicine, prior to becoming a mum. We moved to New Zealand
and I had my first experience of working with my daughter in a Montessori classroom.
I started my own Montessori pre-school soon after that and ran this for 6 years.
In Perth, I started Smart Start in 2004 and in 2005, I had my second experience of
working with my daughter, Sarah, and she has worked with us since then.
I was born in Belgium and was very interested in learning other languages and traveling.
I use my knowledge of languages at Smart Start to teach the children French.
I have taught in Montessori as well as public schools, as for brief intervals
I have taught science, mathematics and computer studies at high schools in the UK,
New Zealand and Perth. But Montessori remains my love, I can't think of a more
beautiful start to a child's learning journey. To see them become so competent,
and have such enthusiasm for learning, it's such a privilege to
witness this and to be able to have a part in helping them to achieve this.
Sarah Fishleigh
Hi, I am Sarah, the eldest daughter of Annie and hence
the product of a Montessori upbringing! I have always loved children so
I think I was destined to become a teacher from an early age.
When I graduated from high school I wanted to become a teacher but decided
to keep my options open and get a bachelor in Communication Studies whilst gaining
teaching experience by working at Smart Start. In my first year classes I found that
the Anthropology subjects were immensely interesting and took that as my
second major. Throughout my degree, I worked at Smart Start two or three days
a week as an assistant teacher/music teacher and found that I really enjoyed it.
No two days were ever the same and I saw it as a great challenge to find all
the ways to help the children develop. Working with children is very special,
you are able to live in the moment, glimpse life through their eyes and
experience a little of their excitement and fascination for everything that is new.
Of course there is also the reward of being able to see the children blossom in front
of our eyes and I would have to say that this is the most special thing of all.
I quickly decided that teaching was what I wanted to do and after finishing
my degree, I did a Graduate Diploma in Education (Montessori), which
I completed in February 2009.
I have been working as a teacher at Smart Start since I graduated and believe
that there are very few programs out there that provide what we do and see the
results that we see. I am extremely passionate about early learning and believe
it to have immense importance. The early years of a child’s life really set the
foundations for their life long learning. Every child should be given the opportunity
to learn, develop and be stimulated and I am just so pleased that we are lucky enough
to be able to extend our services in Swanbourne and provide this for even more
children.
Abigail Dyson
I’m Abi and I have been working in Smartstart in Swanbourne
since January 2011 after moving to Australia from Cornwall in the UK with my
partner. I come from a teaching family, both my parents teach and my sister
is currently in teacher training too, so childcare is an area in which I have
always felt comfortable, having helped out in my parents lessons whenever
I could through high school and university. I really enjoy working with children,
watching them grow and sharing their enthusiasm to learn and for the world
around them. Working with children, I know no day will ever be dull!
It feels great to help the children to learn and often the children have
a thing or two to teach the grown-ups too! I have been very impressed
by the Montessori method and the progress made by the children I have
worked with during the past year. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with
smartstart this year and I’m looking forward to 2012.
