Nursery owner’s delight as former pupil enrols son

A NURSERY owner has told of her delight after a former pupil brought their child back to the nursery where he was taught.

Oliver Hester, 35, returned to Denning Montessori School in Fawley to bring his son Torren, two, after attending the nursery over 30 years ago.

Mr Hester is the first ex-pupil to return as a parent, to the school which is run by founder, Jenny Blain.

Mrs Blain, 61, who lives in Deanfield Road with her husband Jonathan and their three daughters, set up the school in 1991 after teaching at a Montessori school in Marlow.

She grew up in Devon and first taught in London, where she trained in the Montessori method.

The system, devised by Italian academic Maria Montessori, lets children have some choice over what they study and encourages them to move freely around the classroom.

She moved to Marlow in the Eighties before coming to Henley. Her school bears her maiden name as she was not married when she opened it.

Her daughters Talia, Xanthe, and Kezia, all attended the school. Mrs Blain also taught Ruby and Molly Schofield, the daughters of television presenter Phillip Schofield, and the children of former Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman.

She said: “It was very exciting to receive an email from Oliver as I remember teaching him at three years old.

“It is so special for me having Torren at the school. I love to hear and connect with past pupils.

“I was just checking through my emails when I received it, I just felt really excited that an ex-pupil was coming back and bringing their child.”

Mrs Blain who is know by pupils as “Miss Jenny” said she remembered teaching Mr Hester.

She said: “I set up the nursery in September 1991, it was super special and I made albums of the years and I brought it out and showed them.

“Oliver remembers some of his time at the school, it will be 35 years next year. I forgot how long I have run the nursery and how special it is.

“I was delighted he wanted to come back. It feels a little bit emotional that he has brought his son, they live about 40 minutes’ drive so to get to us it is a commitment.”

Mrs Blain said she has always loved teaching.

“I have done it for so long,” she said.

She continued: “I always knew when I left school that this is what I wanted to do, I had a dream of having my own nursery school.

“The building in Fawley became available and I was able to realise that dream in my 20’s and set up the school.

“I never imagined doing it for so long. I still love it, I have had three daughters come through the nursery.”

Mrs Blain said she felt “really proud” and called the moment “surreal” when Mr Hester came back to school.

“I had a great big smile on my face when they walked in,” she said.

She remembers Mr Hester always being busy, she said.

Mr Hester, who is a director of Kite Architects and lives near Oxford, said he liked the values and Montessori method of teaching.

He said: “It felt really nice to come back. When I went back it brought back all these memories of my time there. I remember most the classroom and the playground. It was fantastic to go back and see it.

“Torren has really enjoyed his time at the school, it has a fantastic atmosphere. Miss Jenny is always lovely and she taught me when I was there. It was great to come back.”

The school will be holding an open morning tomorrow (Saturday) from 10am to noon at the nursery based at Fawley Village Hall.