Our Story

This is me, Lara Ritson, pictured above. I first began the Peaceful Learning journey about six years ago. I thought of the idea of an alternative nanny agency, when I was  living in New Zealand. However, lack of knowledge about the need worldwide, small demand in New Zealand and careers in teaching and nannying taking me elsewhere meant that Peaceful Learning took a backseat. Four years on, after a career change and relocating to London, it  became very evident that an alternative nanny agency was needed.  Being a nanny and teacher myself who uses the RIE® principles and Magda Gerber's Educaring® Approach, I felt the frustration and longing to find the right family after joining countless nanny agencies. I had been approached by many families and nannies wanting and using respectful childcare looking to connect who understand what positive guidance means, who believe in child-led learning and that the best way to shape children is through role-modelling and so I thought, why not? How hard can it be to create an agency? (It was quite a rollercoaster!) So, here we are. Here to help families like you connect with the right nanny. No matter where you are in the world, we will do our very best to find a nanny that works for you. 


My mission is to help 1000 families over the next five years to grow authentic, loving relationships and a passion for living freely and curiously. I truly believe in what Peaceful Learning is about and so do all my team members. I make sure that everyone who works at Peaceful Learning has a background in holistic care and are authentically passionate about the approach, they genuinely care about who will be looking after your little ones. I am super blessed to have such a wonderful group of women working alongside me, they inspire me and give me energy. 

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The Peaceful Learning Team

Kerryn

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Meet Kerryn, our USA representative. Originally from New Zealand, Kerryn spent 10 years as a nanny. She also received her Bachelor’s in Teaching (Specializing in Montessori). Here is where she fell in love with the philosophy and knew she wanted to share it with others. Moving to Portland, OR in 2014, Kerryn gained her Montessori diploma through AMI. Also, during this time, she met her husband and two step children. And now they have their third child together and reside in the gorge along the beautiful Columbia River. Kerryn loves to encourage independence within children, facilitating a child-led day full of love and nurture. She has been so happy to join the team at Peaceful Learning as a recruiter. She loves to help families and nannies find their perfect fit, and believes that Montessori, Steiner, RIE, Pikler and Reggio all begin in the children’s home. 

Suzanne

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Meet Suzanne our Social Media Consultant.  Suzanne is an early childhood teacher with a BA/BTeach and Master of Education degree in ECE and specialised training in the Pikler approach and Steiner/Waldorf education. Her journey into early childhood began as a nanny over fifteen years ago and since then she has had the opportunity to teach many beautiful children, manage Pikler and Steiner inspired childcare centres, provide professional development and mentoring to students and qualified teachers and facilitate parent education.  Her deep passion for promoting natural child development through child-led play and the importance of secure and respectful adult and child partnerships is what inspires her work the most.  Suzanne is grateful to be a part of the Peaceful Learning team and to have the opportunity to share knowledge of alternative and holistic approaches to childcare with our wonderful community of like-minded nannies and families.

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Necane

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Meet Necane our London Ambassador. Originally from New Zealand, Necane has a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education). Her passion for working with young children began 9 years ago when she visited an early childhood centre inspired by the works of Dr Emmi Pikler and Magda Gerber. She was completely blown away with the respectful and reciprocal interactions she saw between the teachers and children. This visit changed everything, and she has been working with children ever since. Necane is especially interested and drawn to working with toddlers and enjoys nurturing an appreciation of the outdoors and the natural world. Necane is very humbled to be a part of the Peaceful Learning team as a recruiter, and so enjoys surrounding herself with families, nannies and professionals who share similar values for the youngest members of our community.

Pamela

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Pamela is an early childhood teacher with a BA/BTeach degree in ECE. She also gained a nanny qualification and  understands the roles and responsibilities that a nanny needs to take on. She is currently studying to gain a Montessori 3-6 diploma. She is originally from New Zealand but is currently living in Somerset U.K with her husband and 1 year old son. She loves the various gentle approaches when working with children. She grew up in a Montessori environment as her mother gained a Montessori 6-9 AMI diploma in Bergamo when she was 3 years old. Montessori has been her main passion but after working in an early childhood centre inspired by RIE and Pikler she also fell in love with these approaches. She especially loves the 0-3 age group and is loving life with a toddler. She is honoured to be a part of the Peaceful Learning team and is passionate about helping families to find calm, gentle, patient nannies who use respectful care.