About Colourbox Montessori
Colourbox Montessori Schools are guided by a passionate team of dedicated Montessori educators, each bringing years of experience and a deep love for nurturing young minds.
About Colourbox Montessori
Colourbox Montessori Schools are guided by a passionate team of dedicated Montessori educators, each bringing years of experience and a deep love for nurturing young minds.
Founders Message
In 1990, after attending a lecture at St. Nicholas Montessori Training College, I visited one of the classrooms and was amazed by the joyful and independent atmosphere, it reminded me of a beehive. Today, more than three decades later, it still amazes me and I continue to support our educators in their professional and personal development so that they, and each child who attends our nurseries are “Excited about learning, excited about life”.
Susie Norman
Director
VISION
Peace is what every human being craves, and it can be brought about by humanity through the child.
Colourbox Aspirations
To promote and encourage the optimum intellectual, social, physical, spiritual and economic development of children through a contemporary Montessori approach to education for children from 3 months to 5 years.
To maintain fully inclusive Montessori Schools that do not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, creed, sexual preference, gender, national/ethnic origins or ability in either its admission or employment policies. We fully support the ‘Every Disabled Child Matters’ campaign.
To provide and maintain well-equipped, safe, and purposeful learning environments, staffed with trained and caring personnel for all families in the Bury St. Edmunds area of West Suffolk and surrounding communities.
To educate the community as to the value of the Montessori philosophy of education and act as a resource within the broader professional educational network.
We want to spread awareness about the benefits of Montessori education and to be a helpful resource in the wider education community.
Using Montessori approach, we help children aged 3 months to 5 years develop in all aspects—intellectual, social, physical, spiritual, and economic.
Child protection is paramount to providing safe and enriching learning environments for our families in West Suffolk and nearby areas.
“Everyone is Welcome” regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, nationality, or ability. We support initiatives such as the ‘Every Disabled Child Matters’ campaign.
Our Senior Management Team
Simone Cunha Nel
Operations Manager
Simone is a values-led early years leader with a passion for building strong teams, safe environments, and exceptional outcomes for children. Having led single and multi-site settings through growth, change, and inspection, Simone bring a clear, emotionally intelligent approach to leadership, balancing compassion with high standards and a strong sense of purpose.
Lindsey Dodsworth
Business Manager
Lindsey joined Colourbox in 1997. She holds an International Montessori Teaching Diploma, NNEB Diploma and in 2018 she also gained a Business Degree. Lindsey is responsible for the business and accounting side of the company. Her role also includes liaising with families when they join one of our nurseries, advising them regarding government funding and signposting them to further information. Lindsey is part of a committee that runs a Charity for children with disabilities and life limiting illnesses.
Tasmin Chandler
Development Director
Susie Norman
Director
Susie established Colourbox Montessori in 1990, having gained the St. Nicholas Montessori International Diploma. She trained as a Montessori assessor in 2013 and undertook countrywide accreditations for the former Montessori Evaluation and Assessment Board until 2020. Through this work Susie also became a certified Educational Assessor and was named UK Montessorian of the Year in 2012.
Welfare at Colourbox Montessori
We take our duty to promote the protection and welfare of all children seriously and we therefore use Suffolk County Council’s ‘Safer Recruitment’ procedures to ensure that all staff and volunteers are thoroughly vetted. We also provide ongoing Safeguarding training and Health & Safety training for our team in accordance with best practice and current statutory requirements.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Simone Cunha Nel: 07936 441003
Nursery Nutrition
Visit Colourbox Montessori
Nurseries
We embrace the Early Years Foundation Stage 2025.
We would welcome the opportunity to show you and your child around our nursery schools and you will see why the children are ‘Excited about learning, excited about life’!