Clifton College Preschool

My name is Melissa, and I have over 25 years of teaching and leadership experience in education, primarily dedicated to the Early Years phase. Throughout my career teaching children up to age 8, I have developed a deep-rooted passion for a child-centred, caring approach. There is nothing more rewarding than the joy of seeing a child achieve a new milestone; those moments of discovery are at the heart of everything I do.

In my previous roles on Senior Leadership Teams, I gained experience leading teams and cohorts of children, ensuring high standards across the board. I have worked closely with Local Authorities, universities, and other establishments to implement new initiatives, which have directly resulted in raising pupil attainment and improving educational outcomes.

Currently, as Assistant Head and Early Years Lead, a role that brings me immense pleasure as I oversee the journey of our youngest children in the Foundation Stage, ensuring they benefit from a curriculum that is both fun, play-based, and deeply relevant. I am committed to developing Early Years pedagogy both within our school and across the wider sector. To support this, I established a local network for Independent Schools with Early Years settings, fostering a collaborative space for educators to share expertise. This initiative helps develop our staff’s pedagogical knowledge, which in turn creates the best possible learning environment for our pupils. By working closely with our parents, carers, and the professional community, I ensure we are all working together to give our children the best possible start in life.

Knowing that each day our team contributes so meaningfully to our Preschool children’s development is a privilege, and that sense of fulfilment continues to spread as we see our Preschool community growing and flourishing. Read less

Hi, my name is Laura, and I am the Preschool Class teacher. Before joining Clifton College, I gained experience in a range of schools across Bristol and in an international school in Berlin, Germany. Before teaching, I worked in outdoor education, where I was fortunate to spend time in many different countries working with various age groups.

When working with children, I aim to support their independence and development by ensuring they feel empowered and have choices in their learning. I believe the happiest children are those who feel secure in their environment.

Step into my classroom, and you’ll feel warmth, joy, and a big helping of fun! Children are encouraged to explore freely, question their surroundings, and demonstrate a curiosity that craves new experiences and discoveries. Read less

My name is Richard Swanson, and I am the Preschool Foxes Class Teacher at Clifton College.

Over my 17-year teaching journey, I’ve had the absolute joy of working with young learners all over the globe - from Moscow, Manila, and Riyadh to Nairobi, as well as four wonderful years right here in Bristol at Clifton College. While I’ve spent many years in middle leadership roles, my primary focus has always been where I feel most effective: in the classroom, learning and discovering alongside the children.

One of my core aims is to cultivate a Preschool environment that feels like a home away from home - a secure, safe, structured, and welcoming space where pupils feel confident to explore and engage. My practice is grounded in an inquiry-led, play-based approach, with an emphasis on developing oracy. I focus on building rich language skills, encouraging conversations, and helping children express and articulate their ideas, feelings, thoughts, and questions with growing confidence.

Outdoor education is another integral part of my approach. Learning in nature encourages problem-solving, resilience, and discovery - our fabulous Forest School sessions are a real highlight!

I look forward to working closely with our Preschool families to ensure a smooth, positive, and enriching start to their child’s journey at Clifton College. Read less