Early Years education has a high profile in Steiner-Waldorf schools where practitioners have always been accorded equal status within the profession.
Synnove brings over ten years experience working in the School’s Early Years settings, first as the Toddler Group and Playgroup leader, going on to become the first Seedlings Leader when the Playgroup extended its provision and became registered in 2019; completing her Steiner Waldorf Early Years training. She now oversees Early Years and is part of the Management Team. She also has insight into the Lower- and Upper School as a parent to three children.
Charlotte Willson, brings over ten years of experience to this role, joining first as Parent & Child Leader in 2006, before starting in Kindergarten, where she worked first as an Assistant and then a Teacher, for twelve years. Her own children, now graduates, attended the School. For the last six years, Charlotte is part of the School’s Pupil Wellbeing Department as the Early Years Pupil Support Coordinator and Early Years Child Protection Officer.
The Early Years Department is represented on the Board of Trustees by Corinna Tebbutt, a former Kindergarten Teacher in the School for twenty years, and a former member of the College of Teachers, Management Team and Finance Group, liaising with Edinburgh Council as a Partner Provider. Her four children were Steiner educated; and she has two grandchildren in the School. Now working in the Third Sector, Corinna became a Trustee in 2019.
The work of teachers in a Steiner Waldorf Kindergarten is inspired by the wisdom and contemporary relevance of Rudolf Steiner’s educational philosophy and prepares children for the changing modern world. It is grounded in a specialist 3-year Steiner Waldorf Early Years Training Course. All those in the Early Years sector must have an accredited ‘full and relevant’ qualification recognised by SSSC or Education Scotland. Our experienced Early Years Practitioners hold both qualifications.
Continuing professional development for teachers is offered within the School by the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship (SWSF) – the membership organisation for all the Steiner schools and independent Steiner Early Years settings in the UK and Ireland – through attendance at conferences and courses on child development, as well at workshops for other subjects including first aid, health & safety, food hygiene, equal opportunities, child protection and additional needs.
Each of our four Kindergarten leaders have a well-established professional and personal connection with the School. Our Kindergarten Leaders collectively bring over 40 years of service at Edinburgh Steiner School to their roles. Each have chosen a Steiner education for their own children.
The Seedlings and Kindergarten day runs from 8.40am until 1pm or 3.15pm. Wraparound is offered until 5.30pm.