The kindergarten was registered and open in 2010, born from the vision of local parents interested in Waldorf education.The parents started charitable organisation and began fundraising, drafting policies and working together to make their dream come. Year 2013 mark a significant milestone in the life of the kindergarten, when all the requirements were met to be recognised by the Steiner Fellowship. This was followed by a successful Ofsted (Office For Standards in Education) inspection where the kindergarten was awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating in all areas. All the effort of the staff and trustees were rewarded. Claude Lebaleur is the Lead Teacher at Laurel Farm Kindergarten. Claude was born in Paris, France and moved to the United States when she was 21 years old. She worked in different capacities and with different age groups at the Chicago Waldorf School for 25 years. She started as an Early Childhood Assistant, became a full time Kindergarten Teacher while doing her Waldorf training for 3 years at Sunbridge College, New York. She then became an Art and Craft teacher and for 20 years developed the Handwork and Fine Art Program at the School. Her interest towards children with learning challenges lead her to another training in Sunbridge College with the association for healing education. She then became one of the leaders in planning and executing remedial educational strategies and stayed involved with Early Childhood children and teachers in a supportive role. Since moving to the UK Claude worked for 2 years as a SEN teacher at the Sheiling School of Tornbury, a Steiner inspired special School. Claude is passionate about Waldorf education and taught on the Arcturus Teacher Training program for 20 years. She has 3 children of her own, all three attended the Waldorf School in Chicago. Kasamira Czanik, known as Kas by the children, is the Assistant Teacher at Laurel Farm Kindergarten. Her early years were full of Steiner influences, and she grew up with a love and fascination for this methodology. Kasamira studied Early Childhood at University, and then went on to work in a variety of children’s settings. Being a creative individual, she specialises in arts and crafts with young children, and leads a weekly craft session at Skyline Forest School in Fairy Wood, Bath. She also has a passion for the outdoors and all it has to offer for young children, inspired by core Forest School values.
