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.

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.

My name is Josie. I have worked at Clifton College since 2018, and I can honestly say it still feels like a privilege to walk through the doors each morning. Over the years, I’ve taught children up to the age of eight, and those early stages of learning are so special. Being part of that journey, when everything is new and exciting, is something I never take for granted.

I’m passionate about creating an environment where children feel safe, inspired and confident to try new things. There is nothing more rewarding than watching their progress over the course of a year. Seeing their confidence grow and their personalities shine. One of the things that makes Clifton College Preschool such a fantastic place to work is the small class sizes, as they allow me to truly get to know each and every child. All their strengths, their challenges, and the little quirks that make them who they are. Understanding their individual needs means I can support and stretch them in the right ways, helping them to thrive. The close relationships we build, both with the children and their families, make the school feel like a genuine community.

Teaching is something I care deeply about. Working with young children brings so much joy and purpose to my days, and to play a small part in shaping their early experiences of school and learning is an honour.