"I started READY STEADY GO in September 1988, in a garden flat in Primrose Hill, as a morning-only group for ten children. It has since grown into an early years programme for 200 children, across four centres. Three are recognised as outstanding, not only by Ofsted but also by the many families who have entrusted their children’s care and development to us over the past 35 years. (The fourth – newest – centre hasn’t yet been inspected.) 

Having begun my career in education as a secondary school teacher, I later studied Child Development & Education, gaining Early Years Teacher Status and taking an MA in Infant Mental Health. I have built a brilliant team of Early Years educators, supported by expert consultants. 

READY STEADY GO has grown steadily over the past three decades. In October 1997, the local playgroup at Primrose Hill Community Centre was suddenly closing. READY STEADY GO stepped in, and RSG Fitzroy Road started up. In 2000, RSG St John’s Wood began in an adventure playground, later moving to its current home – a church beautifully converted by us, and recently re-named RSG Alexandra Road. 

In 1992, Creative Workshops – now known as ABC – started up. In 2000, RSG Beginners was born. Both of these provide something I would have welcomed as a new parent and never found – a consistent group of families with young children, led and guided by wise and skilled teachers supporting new parents with great ways to interact with small children.

In 2022, we moved back to the adventure playground in St John’s Wood and are currently developing this re-designed centre, initially with accompanied groups – Beginners, ABC and Forest School – and in 2024 with a new pre-school, to be known as RSG St John’s Wood Terrace.

Our staff at RSG are some of the best in Early Years, and we have an exceptionally low staff turnover. Several of our team have been with us for over 20 years, and Amanda Neil, our Alexandra Road Lead educator and Lead SENCO, has been with us since we opened.
 
In 2021, I stepped down as Principal, handing the reins to Harriet Darley, who has proved to be a gifted and inspirational leader. I am still deeply involved in READY STEADY GO, and hope to continue to be so for many years to come."