Maggie Ross, a trailblazing early years educator who dedicated her life to breaking down barriers in learning, has passed away suddenly at 73. Born in Bristol, but with deep roots in India where her father served as a vicar and educator, Maggie's career was marked by an unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds – particularly bilingual children and their families.
Born in Bristol, Maggie spent part of her early life in Kerala, south India, where her father, John Beall, served as a vicar and educator. After returning to the UK, she attended Accrington High School. Her academic journey led her to Soas University of London, where she studied linguistics and social anthropology, before training as an early years teacher.
It was in Hackney that Maggie first recognised the critical importance of maintaining a child's home language as a foundation for learning English – a principle she later put into practice at Thomas Buxton Infants School in Tower Hamlets. In 1977, Maggie joined the school, which had a significant Bangladeshi-origin population, and pioneered the use of dual-language 'real books' with young children.
A testament to her resilience, Maggie, along with her two children, became hostages of Saddam Hussein's forces in Kuwait during a refuelling stop in 1990. Held for a month in challenging conditions, she supported her children with remarkable calmness. Upon her release, she returned to her London school the very next day.
Later in her career, Maggie lectured in early years education and language at the University of North London. However, missing direct interaction with young children, she returned to managing early years centres, overseeing Springdale, Dorothy Gardner, and New River Green nurseries in Islington and North Westminster between 2001 and 2011.
In her later years, Maggie volunteered at Holloway and Pentonville prisons, organising family days to allow children to play with their incarcerated parents. Maggie is survived by her husband, two children, and four grandsons – but it's her legacy that will be remembered for generations to come: her innovative approach to early years education, her unwavering commitment to supporting diverse communities, and her profound impact on the professional development of those she mentored.