Our team

Owner & Nursery Director

Celia Tilli

Started:

4 January 2004

Qualifications:

Nursery Nurse’s certificate; Nursery Infant (Foundation) teaching diploma

Celia has been the proud owner and Nursery Director of Montys Nursery and Pre-school since establishing the setting in its current form. Her passion has always been to create a happy, nurturing environment where every child feels safe, loved, and inspired to learn. She believes healthy children are happy children — which is why Montys provides nutritious organic meals prepared by our nursery chef. One of her greatest joys is spending time with the children in the nursery garden, planting, nurturing and harvesting fruit, vegetables and herbs together.

“Montys is more than just a nursery — it’s a place where children are encouraged to explore, grow in confidence, and create happy memories that will last a lifetime.”

Nursery Manager

Gemini Kotak

Started:

6 June 2011

Qualifications:

BA Degree in Education and Early Childhood Studies

Gemini (Gem) is Nursery Manager at Montys Nursery & Pre-school. She has worked in Early Years for over 20 years and has been part of the Montys family since 2011. She is passionate about creating a warm, happy and nurturing environment where every child feels safe, loved and confident to be themselves. Building strong relationships with families is really important to her — so parents feel reassured that their children are cared for as if they were our own.

“I feel incredibly proud of our nursery, our wonderful team and, most importantly, the children who make every day so special.”

Nursery Chef

Antonia Mazar

Started:

24 February 2010

Qualifications:

NVQ Level 3 in Professional Cookery

Antonia — known to the children as Cheffy Antonia — was born and raised in Croatia, where she attended grammar school and completed a pedagogy course. At 19 she moved to England, later completing an NVQ in Professional Cookery and developing her skills as a chef before moving into early years. She has been with Montys for many years, cooking the organic meals the children love.

Early Years Practitioner

Kirsty Wylie

Started:

6 December 2016

Qualifications:

Children and Young People’s Workforce; Early Learning and Childcare; Legal Secretarial

Kirsty has been part of the Montys team since 2016, supporting children through warm, playful care every day.

Deputy Nursery Manager · SENCO · Maths Champion

Melinda Haasz

Started:

22 November 2021

Qualifications:

Foundation Degree; BTEC Level 5 (2019); Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator)

Melinda is our Deputy Nursery Manager, Designated SENCO, Maths Champion for early years, Qualified Preschool Educator and Designated Early Years Co-ordinator. Originally from Romania, where she was a primary school teacher for 10 years, she is dedicated to giving every child the very best start in life. She believes every child is unique and deserves to feel safe, valued and inspired to learn through play, curiosity and meaningful experiences — with a particular passion for inclusion and supporting children with additional needs.

“The greatest privilege of working in Early Years is not only preparing children for school, but helping them discover the confidence to believe in themselves.”

Safeguarding Lead · Red Room Leader

Jennifer Kurti

Started:

6 June 2022

Qualifications:

Early Years Educator Level 3

Jennifer is Safeguarding Lead and Room Leader of Red Room, and mum of two girls. She has been part of the Montys family for four years, and feels incredibly lucky to spend her days helping little ones grow, learn, and celebrate all those amazing first milestones — there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing their confidence blossom and watching their little personalities shine. Originally from the South of France and speaking multiple languages, she loves celebrating different cultures and traditions with the children. Creativity is at the heart of everything she does, and she is extremely passionate about creating experiences that spark curiosity, encourage independence, and fill every day with fun and laughter. She believes learning through play is at the heart of every child’s development, and feels very fortunate to be part of the Montys family and to help create memories that the children will cherish forever.

Early Years Practitioner

Halyna Papizh

Started:

11 July 2022

Qualifications:

NVQ Level 4 in Early Years Teacher

Halyna has always loved being part of a child’s journey as they grow, learn and discover the world around them. Before coming to the UK she worked as an English teacher in a primary school in Ukraine, and is proud to bring that experience and passion for teaching into the nursery. She especially loves working with our youngest children and celebrating every milestone — from first steps and feeding themselves to finding their words — while helping them become independent, confident and curious.

Early Years Practitioner

Clair

Qualifications:

NVQ Level 2 and Level 3 in Childcare

Clair has over 25 years of experience working with children from infancy through to the early years and holds NVQ Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Childcare. Throughout her career, she has worked in nurseries, as a private nanny and supporting families in their homes. She is passionate about creating a warm, nurturing environment where every child feels safe, valued and confident to learn through play. She loves building strong relationships with children and their families and finds it incredibly rewarding to watch each child grow in confidence, develop new skills and reach their milestones.

Early Years Practitioner

Gawri Wahantharage

Started:

6 February 2023

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree; Level 5 Diploma in Teaching and Learning

Gawri is originally from Sri Lanka and moved to the UK in 2007. Before moving here, she worked as a teacher in Sri Lanka for 18 years, where she developed a strong passion for supporting children’s learning and development. She holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Level 5 Diploma in Teaching and Learning, and has over 16 years of experience working as an Early Years Educator in the UK. She is passionate about creating a warm, nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels safe, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. She enjoys building strong, trusting relationships with children and their families and supporting each child’s individual learning journey — watching children grow in confidence, develop new skills and achieve their milestones is the most rewarding part of her role.

Early Years Practitioner

Jessica Luckmann

Started:

22 May 2023

Qualifications:

Level 3 Early Years Educator

Jessica is a qualified Early Years Practitioner with Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Early Years, plus additional training in children’s learning and development. She is passionate about creating a warm, caring environment where children feel safe, happy and confident to be themselves, and loves building positive relationships with children and families. Supporting children as they develop confidence, independence and new skills is one of the most rewarding parts of her role.