Meet Our Team
Caring and Qualified Staff
Our loyal and dedicated staff bring a wealth of expertise and experience. Most importantly they are kind and caring people.
Linda O'Brien
Owner and Manager
Mrs O'Brien is the owner and manager of The Rocking Horse. After training as a Montessori teacher she established the school over 30 years ago and remains passionate about providing a nurturing environment where children can learn and grow.
Mrs O'Brien has three grown up sons all of whom attended and enjoyed The Rocking Horse.
Giselle Pridmore
Manager
Mrs Pridmore has worked alongside Mrs O'Brien for over 30 years and the children and staff benefit from her calm and kind character as well as from her wealth of experience. In 2011 she was short-listed for a NMT Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contribution to nursery education. Alongside her care for the nursery aged children Mrs Pridmore is responsible for the planning of the wonderful crafts the children have the opportunity to try. Mrs Pridmore has two grown children and four grandchildren.
Lisa Luxford
Deputy Manager & Key Teacher
Mrs Luxford is the Key Teacher for the pre-school children. She has worked for The Rocking Horse for over 13 years and has a Level 4 in Early Years. She is an exceptional teacher who really understands how to work with every child to help them make progress individually and in a team prior to starting school. Mrs Luxford is the mum of two school-aged daughters.
Mrs Charlotte Halfacre
Key Teacher
Mrs Halfacre is an Early Years Qualified Teacher and joins us in September 2023 primarily working with the nursery children and bringing with her a wealth of experience from the state and private sector. She has a degree, a PGCE in Education and is a mum of two boys, one a former and one a current Rocking Horse pupil.
Mrs Katy Williams
Pre-school teacher
Mrs Williams has been a much loved teacher at The Rocking Horse for more than fifteen years. She has a passion for helping young children, finding out their interests in order to enhance and inspire their learning. Mrs Williams works primarily alongside Mrs Luxford with the pre-school children.
She has three grown up sons.
Miss Ruth Callender-Bankes
Nursery teacher
Miss Callender-Bankes has been a valuable member of the team for four years. She brings a sunny and positive attitude to the children and her colleagues. Miss Callender-Bankes works primarily alongside Mrs Halfacre with the nursery children. Miss Callender-Bankes has two school-aged daughters.
Mrs Sarah Kingston
Assistant Teacher & Office Administrator
Mrs Kingston's four children attended the nursery and she later returned here herself eight years ago as a member of the staff team! Mrs Kingston supports the teachers as needed across the nursery and pre-school alongside her role as the office administrator.
Madam Sinead
Specialist Teacher - French
Monday afternoons
Madam Sinead has been coming into The Rocking Horse since 2016 to give the children her fabulous fun French sessions. Bonbon the bear always comes too and the children are so happy to see them both on Monday afternoons! Sinead has two school-aged children herself.
Hilary
Specialist teacher - Yoga
Tuesday afternoons
New for January 2024! We are excited to be offering the children a yoga session! Hilary from 'Children Inspired by Yoga' is visiting us on Tuesday afternoons to offer the children the key holistic benefits of yoga. Using music, yoga-inspired movement and multi-sensory storytelling, the sessions are underpinned by developmental theory and the national curriculum.
Chloe
Specialist teacher - Dance
Wednesday afternoons
On Wednesday afternoons the children are always so pleased to see Chloe who comes in to give the children a valuable session in Dance and Movement. Chloe runs the well known and popular 'Village School of Dance' in Tunbridge Wells.