Iverna Gardens

What an awesome time this has been for me. It has been wonderful to have been a part of a beautiful team of talented, funny, caring people. I have learnt so much and enjoyed every minute. You’ve set the bar of expectation now for any future workplace!

Thanks to you and your hard work, my children had a wonderful start in life. I was glad to receive tips from you and the teachers. It helped me a lot and I knew I and my children were in good hands.

Iverna Gardens Montessori is a little gem hidden behind the Armenian Church in Kensington. Owned and managed by Felicity Marrian, Iverna Gardens is a bright, light, busy but calm learning environment with a wealth of interesting experiential learning areas centred around one large main room with supporting rooms on the lower ground floor.

Every part of the main room was used for some learning activity and the carefully prepared wall displays were just enough to show what was being learnt but not so overpowering that you were blinded by colour. The children were immensely polite and focused on the tasks they were performing and the staff are all well qualified, many through Montessori Centre International in London, and entirely devoted to their work.

Outside, the school has a large play area and it was hard to believe that this oasis of learning and calm for such young people was within a few yards of the noise and frantic bustle of High Street Kensington in Central London.

(This article appeared in Montessori International, April 2008)

We wanted to thank you for all the love, care, patience, understanding, and wonderful teaching you have provided for our daughter. She has grown so much in her time at Iverna Gardens and we are so grateful for all that you have done. You hold a special place in our hearts and we will miss you and your smiling, gentle face as we head back to America.

My two eldest experienced the most wonderful start to education in your care. The combination of your brilliant school, and hopefully their home, shall no doubt put them in good stead for developing into caring, curious people. Long may it last! I re-read your individual reports on them again and again and you really have them down to a ‘T’! James has taken to big school like ‘duck to water’ but does complain it’s too small compared to Iverna Gardens! It won’t be long before my youngest comes to Iverna, walking and laughing. The third child is much more relaxed!

*Names have been changed

We were truly delighted with our parent/teacher talk yesterday evening. We were touched and impressed by Miss Sally’s huge effort in assembling such a special record of David’s Iverna Gardens experience. The love and attention that you and all the teachers give to the children encourage them in deeply important ways. We thank you very, very, much.

• Names have been changed