Established in 1985, we are an accredited Montessori school for two to seven-year-old children. We have an established track record of high-quality education: we focus on the individual needs of each child.
Our Head Teacher Emma Wetherley leads a talented team.
Emma Wetherley, Head Teacher
Montessori Dip. (AMI); BA (OU) Early Childhood (0–12)
Emma trained in Denver and London with the highly esteemed Association Montessori Internationale. She lived and taught in Brussels for many years (1996–2004) before returning to the UK to continue her passion for teaching.
Emma believes it is important for school leaders to be at the heart of classroom life and as such teaches in both the nursery and primary classrooms. She is the school Senior Mental health Lead, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, and fire warden. She is trained in developing a growth mindset, paediatric & adult first aid, health & safety, equality, diversity & inclusion, and mental health awareness. Emma is chair of the school leadership team.
Caroline Imi, Deputy Head Teacher
Early Years Educator; MA History of Art & French
Caroline worked in local schools for six years before joining Grantham Farm in 2015. Caroline teaches in the Children’s House class (2–4-year-olds). She is trained as a Dyslexia Teaching Assistant.
Caroline is the school SENDCo (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Co-ordinator). She is also trained in developing a growth mindset, paediatric first aid, health & safety, fire safety and awareness, equality, diversity & inclusion, and mental health awareness. Caroline is a member of the senior leadership team.
Caroline Palmer, Deputy Head Teacher
BA (Hons) with QTS
Caroline joined the school in 2011 after she saw how her own son thrived in our Montessori classroom. Caroline teaches in our primary classroom, bringing together the Montessori curriculum with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 curricula.
Caroline is the fire warden for Grantham Farm class. She is also trained in developing a growth mindset, safeguarding and child protection, paediatric first aid, health & safety, equality diversity & inclusion, and mental health awareness. Caroline is a member of the senior leadership team.
Paul Freeman, Music Teacher and Literacy Support
Montessori Phonetic Reading Cert.; BSc (Hons) Engineering
Paul joined the school in 2006. He teaches music and drama throughout the school.
He supports our successful language development programme and reads with the children each week.
Paul has trained in safeguarding and child protection, health & safety, fire awareness and paediatric first aid.
Gitte Bailey, Early Years Educator
Children’s care, Learning & Development Level 3; Montessori Phonetic Reading Cert.; Montessori Number Sense Cert.; Montessori Materials & the Mind Cert.
Gitte is a highly experienced Early Years Educator having taught young children since 2003. She joined the school in November 2020 and works in our Children’s House class (2–4-year-olds).
The school supported Gitte to qualify as a children’s yoga teacher and she is our resident Yoga Teacher. She is the school Designated Safeguarding Lead, and Primary First Aider. She is trained in developing a growth mindset, fire safety awareness, health & safety and equality, diversity and inclusion. Gitte is also a member of the senior leadership team.
Molly Bayliss, Montessori Assistant to Education
Molly has been part of the Grantham Farm Montessori School family since she started in the Children’s House class in September 2002. After completing her A levels at Bradfield College, Molly worked as an assistant at St Andrew’s School, Berkshire before gaining a BA (Hons) from Exeter University in Classical Studies with English.
Molly brings a creative flair for arts, crafts and baking to her work, and is wonderfully kind and skilled in supporting the children’s social and emotional development.
Molly is trained in safeguarding and child protection, health & safety, fire awareness and paediatric first aid.
Lucy Parkinson Gadd, Registrar
BSc (Hons) Economics
Lucy has been a part of our school since 2012 when her daughter, followed by her son in 2016, joined the school. After her youngest left Grantham Farm, Lucy became a reading volunteer before moving to our office to help with day-to-day administration.
Lucy is trained in safeguarding and child protection, health & safety, fire safety awareness, online safety, UK data protection, and equality, diversity and inclusion. She is currently training to become our mental health lead.
Sophie Dahroug, Montessori Assistant Teacher
Montessori 3–6 Assistants Cert. (AMI); BSc (Hons) Geography
Sophie joined the school in 2022 having taught as a children’s swimming teacher for many years. She qualified as a Montessori assistant teacher in 2020 and is currently studying with Montessori Partnership to become a fully qualified Montessori teacher.
Sophie is trained in safeguarding and child protection, health & safety, fire awareness and paediatric first aid.