about
Greg McDonald
Headmaster
Greg originates from Australia where his career was initially in International Banking. After many years in banking he decided to chase his dream of working with children and in 1993 left for upstate New York. He stayed for four years where he worked alongside children and adults with mild to severe learning difficulties before moving to London.
In London Greg worked as a classroom teacher at Dr Rolfe's Montessori School before progressing to deputy and finally Headmaster in 2004. As Headmaster Greg took the school from strength to strength. The school received excellent Ofsted Reports and under Greg’s leadership the school became a highly sought after Nursery in Notting Hill. Rolfe’s Nursery (as it is now known) is part of the prestigious Alpha Plus Group of private schools.
Whilst at Rolfe’s Greg decided to always include children with special needs. He works in close partnership with parents and staff to ensure the children reach their full potential and as a result, Rolfe’s has become well known in the private sector for accepting special needs children.
Greg is actively involved with all aspects of Early Years Education. He has served on committees for Training and Development in The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea as well as heading the committee for The Children's Workforce Development Council.
Greg believes that every child deserves the right to a happy, carefree education that is play based and child centred. He strongly feels that children should be able to learn at their own pace guided by good quality teaching; that every child is an individual and that no child, no matter what their abilities, should be discriminated against.
Debbie Caines
Deputy Head
Debbie is married with two children. She has taught in schools in the UK, Germany, Indonesia and Singapore – both private and state funded.
She is highly experienced and has taught primary school children ranging from Reception to Year Eight.
Debbie’s previous posts include Director of Pastoral Care, Houseparent, Year 6 Leader, Head of Maths, Head of Learning Support and Director of Studies.
Debbie’s most recent post was Head of Learning Support at a private school in Hampshire, UK. She was responsible for establishing the Learning Support department at the school – her age focus being Kindergarten to Year 6.
Judith Riddell
SEN Teacher and Special Educational Needs Coordinator
Judith is British and holds an MA and a PGCE in General Primary (Age 5-11) from Cambridge University.
She has been trained and qualified in British Sign Language, ELKAN certificate in Speech and Language Development, TEACCH methods for Autistic students in the classroom, Makaton within the classroom and Practical Science Techniques for children with Special Educational Needs within the classroom.
Judith’s experience includes teaching children with moderate and severe learning difficulties, teaching students, with varying degrees of special needs, such as Autism, visual impairment, Downs Syndrome, developmental delay, ADHD, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, speech impediments, mild right Hemi paresis and Fallots.
Rebecca Dickinson
SEN Teacher and Curriculum Coordinator
Rebecca is British and holds a BEd degree from Bangor University, Wales and has attained QTS.
Rebecca’s teaching experience in the UK includes working as a SENCO and inclusion officer at her current school. She has held posts of responsibility for curriculum coordination and the assessment of pupils. She has enhanced her experience of children with learning difficulties by attending many courses including identification, assessment and intervention strategies for pupils with individual literacy difficulties and an introduction to Autism.
Rebecca is qualified in First Aid, she plays and teaches the flute and the piano and is keen to ensure that all children have access to music and singing as an important part of their curriculum. Rebecca will be the Curriculum Coordinator for the Academy.
Meghan O'Brien
SEN Teacher
Meghan is from Kentucky, USA and has a BA Arts, with teaching certifications in Special Education. Meghan taught at a Special Needs School in New York and is currently completing her Masters of Education.
Stephanie Potgieter
Senior Speech & Language Therapist
Stephanie originates from South Africa and holds a Masters in Education Psychology as well as holding a BA in Speech Therapy & audiology.
Stephanie is highly experienced and has worked within special needs schools. She has dealt with moderate to severe learning difficulties, communication problems and challenging behavior.
Stephanie is able to execute, analyse & interpret diagnostic speech and language therapy tests. She is able to perform otoscopic examinations and audiology for children and adults.
In the UK Stephanie managed a private full-time audiology and speech and language therapy practice for 12 years.
Lisa Poppas
Occupational Therapist
Lisa is Australian and holds a B.Sc degree in Occupational Therapy.
Lisa has years of experience as an occupational therapist which have included the assessment of development of primary school students and the facilitation of activities with children to assist in development of fine and gross motor skills, eye hand coordination, sensory motor skills and self care tasks.
Eimear Walsh
Physiotherapist
Eimear is a chartered physiotherapist who qualified with a BSc (hons) in Physiotherapy from University College Dublin, Ireland in 1999, and is a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. She has worked in acute care hospitals in Ireland and prior to moving to Bahrain was the senior paediatric orthopaedic physiotherapist in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Ireland, specialising in the treatment of paediatric specific musculosketal conditions.
Eimear moved to Bahrain in late 2005, and has been working in a local hospital while also completing her MSc in Healthcare Management from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Her specific areas of interest are paediatric developmental delay and motor skills integration.
Amanda Khamis
Speech & Language Therapist
Amanda is Australian and completed her Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) at the University of Sydney.
She has taught language and articulation therapy for pre-school children in Australia and has also worked in London as a speech therapist.
Amanda is experienced with children who have communication disorders.
Marlene Cocking
Learning and Behaviour Support
Marlene is South African and holds a Diploma in “Education in Psychology” from Stonebridge Associated Colleges. She has attended many workshops and training sessions including Optimum Health for Kids, Learning Styles Thru’ Brain Dominance Profiles, Inclusive and Special Education. She has years of experience as a Teacher’s Aid working with children who have special needs including Cerebral Palsy, Autism and Downs Syndrome.
Angelina de Guzman
Nurse
Angelina studied and graduated as a Midwife (1980 – 1983). She studied Nursing at Far Eastern University – Manila, Philippine (1984 – 1985)
She earned the title of “Behaviour Technician” from Applied Behaviour Consultants, Inc.
She has completed a course in “Move to Teach (Special Education)
Angelina has years of experience as a nurse at many medical institutions in Bahrain.
Helen Smith
SEN Teacher
Helen is British and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Sunderland. Helen also holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Nutrition from Kings College, University of London.
Helen has taught in schools in Bahrain, Qatar & India and she also holds a certificate for teaching English to adults.
Bronagh Daly
Assistant Teacher
Bronagh is Irish and holds a BEd (Hons) from St Patrick’s College. Bronagh also holds a Certificate in Applied Behavioural Analysis from Trinity College Dublin.
Bronagh has taught in schools in Ireland and Australia. Bronagh has also been heavily involved in music and has much experience with special needs children.
Lorraine Newport
Assistant Teacher
Lorraine is English; she is Makaton trained and is currently in the final stages of becoming a qualified trainer herself.
Lorraine has shadowed special needs children prior to joining us at the academy.
Shirley Valentine
Learning Support Assistant
Shirley holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Special Education and has studied children with developmental delay.
Shirley has worked one to one and also shadowed special needs children up to the age of eight.
Yasmene Sabkar
Yasmene holds a Masters in Early Childhood Special Education which she received from Columbia University, New York, USA. Before joining The Children's Academy, Yasmene worked as a Special Needs teacher in New York.
Laurice Nascimento
Laurice originates from South Africa and her background is in social work, where she holds a BA of Social Science. Laurice has experience working with the visually impaired and is able to bring this experience to the academy.
Nazia Ali
Nazia holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Most recently Nazia worked in Switzerland as an assistant teacher with autistic children.
Aurimai Javier
Aurimai holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a major in Special Education. She has previously worked with children with autism and also has experience working with KG1.
Jose Patrick
Jose has worked alongside children with special needs as a shadow and also as classroom assistant. Jose has a nursing background - her qualification was gained in Holland.
Helen Lee
Helen originates from England and holds a BSc (Honours) in Podiatry. Prior to joining us Helen has worked with children with Cerebral Palsy.
Helan Nathan-Liew
Helan is Australian and has worked in the field of special needs for some time. She has classroom experience both in mainstream and special needs schools.
Katie Snow
Katie is British and has worked for several years (in the UK) in all aspects of nursery school life for children 2 to 4 years. Katie is currently completing her BA in Early Childhood Studies.
Claire Carney
Claire originates from England and holds a BA in Studies and Languages. Claire has previously worked in nursery schools and as a children's dance teacher.