Our Nursery Heads
St Margarets Montessori
Claudia Neves
Claudia is a highly accomplished Montessori practitioner and educator with a deep commitment to the authentic principles of Montessori education. Her journey into early years began when she discovered the Montessori method and knew instantly that she wanted to become a guide and directress rather than a traditional teacher.
Originally from South Africa, Claudia holds an International Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy from the Montessori Centre International and a National Diploma in Early Childhood Development (Level 5). Her impressive career has spanned four countries – South Africa, Mozambique, France, and the United Kingdom – giving her a rich, international perspective on early childhood education.
Claudia’s philosophy centres on the belief that every person has unique qualities that no one else possesses, and that through thoughtful guidance and opportunity, adults can help children realise their strengths, build confidence, and develop the self-esteem to contribute meaningfully to the world around them. She loves working with children but equally enjoys mentoring adults, sharing her expertise in the Montessori Method with practitioners and student teachers alike.
At St Margarets, Claudia has built an exceptional team and champions initiatives such as Forest School and intergenerational partnerships with the local community. Her unwavering focus on keeping children at the heart of every decision makes St Margarets a truly special place to learn and grow.
Richmond Montessori
Genna Tucker
Genna leads our flagship Richmond Montessori setting with a wealth of experience in early years education and leadership. Her career in childcare spans many years, during which she has developed exceptional expertise in EYFS curriculum development and strategic nursery management.
Known for her warm yet professional approach, Genna creates nurturing environments where children thrive and staff feel empowered to deliver their very best. Her strong organisational skills and strategic vision ensure Richmond Montessori consistently provides outstanding care and education. As Designated Safeguarding Lead, Genna maintains the highest standards of child protection and welfare across her setting.
Genna’s commitment to quality is evident in everything she does – from building cohesive teams to fostering meaningful partnerships with families. Under her leadership, Richmond Montessori continues to be a place where every child is celebrated, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential.
Twickenham Park
Guy Mitchell
Guy is the heart and soul of Twickenham Park, having been part of the setting since 2003 when he joined as Deputy Manager. He was promoted to Manager in 2016 following a year as Interim Manager and has been a constant presence through all the nursery’s transitions, including the formation of Riverside Nursery Schools Group.
Guy is passionate about making every day a unique experience for the children in his care. His philosophy puts children first in everything – from how they learn and play to supporting their general wellbeing. He is dedicated to encouraging resilience, social skills, empathy, independence, ambition, integrity, good manners, and kind choices in every child.
Away from nursery, Guy is a devoted Liverpool supporter who enjoys music, films, and jogging. He has two children who previously attended Twickenham Park, which gave him invaluable insight into seeing the nursery from a parent’s perspective as well as a manager’s.
Under Guy’s leadership, Twickenham Park boasts an exceptionally stable and dedicated team – many staff members have been with the nursery for 10 to 20 years. Several practitioners have progressed from entry-level positions to Room Leads under his mentorship. Guy strives to ensure all staff are valued and praised for the incredible work they do every day. His longevity and the loyalty of his team are a testament to the positive, supportive culture he has cultivated.
Grosvenor House
Julia Loizou
Julia brings an impressive 12 years of experience in Nursery and Key Stage 1 settings to her role as Deputy Head at Grosvenor House. Her educational credentials are equally distinguished, including an MA in Education (Primary), experience as Chair of Governors at a primary school, and service as a Safeguarding Officer in secondary education.
Throughout her career, Julia has chosen to work in schools because she firmly believes all children have the right to high-quality education regardless of their personal circumstances. She understands the profound opportunity educators have to directly impact pupils as they grow and develop into young adults.
Julia’s educational philosophy centres on creating calm, organised, and respectful environments where children feel secure and can truly flourish. Since joining Riverside, she has focused on two key priorities that reflect our values: building stronger connections with our local community to help children develop a deeper sense of belonging, and mentoring and coaching practitioners to drive exceptional practice across all classrooms.
What truly sets Julia apart is her remarkable ability to build strong, cohesive teams. Her supportive leadership style creates an environment where staff feel empowered to bring their best ideas forward and continuously develop their practice.
Holly Road
Michaela Oldfield
Michaela (Misty) brings a remarkable depth of expertise to Holly Road, with particular strength in supporting children with additional needs. Her extensive qualifications include a CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce, a Level 5 Award in EYFS Teaching (achieved with Higher Distinction), a Complete SEND Diploma (Levels 2, 3 & 4), and an Autism Awareness Diploma. She is also an Early Years SENCO certified through the Best Practice Network and holds the RSPH Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid.
Throughout her career, Misty has gained invaluable experience working with children with a wide range of additional needs, including Collus Syndrome, Down’s Syndrome, Cochlear Implants, Cerebral Palsy, speech and language delays, and autism. Her knowledge enables her to create inclusive environments where every child receives the tailored support they need to flourish.
Misty’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that we must develop each child’s unique gifts into qualities that enrich the world around us. She understands that her role is not to fill empty vessels with knowledge, but to guide children towards achieving their full potential. Her training in EAL support and experience working with refugee families further demonstrates her commitment to inclusive, compassionate care.
An advocate for team development, Misty is passionate about ongoing training and mentoring practitioners. At Holly Road, she is leading the team through an exciting period of growth and development, ensuring every child receives exceptional care and education.