Open World Learning

I am a qualified animal educator with a degree in Animal Behaviour and Training and additional qualifications in education, with years of hands-on experience working with exotic invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals and birds. I deliver animal education sessions in schools and community settings through my own Community Interest Company, meaning every resource I create is grounded in genuine first-hand knowledge and real world experience. I specialise in nature, animal science, habitats, conservation and outdoor learning resources for primary age learners, designed to spark genuine curiosity about the natural world, because children who understand and love animals grow up to protect them.

My teaching style is rooted in curiosity, real-world connections and hands-on engagement. I believe children learn best when they are genuinely fascinated by what they are discovering, so my resources are designed to spark that fascination first, then build knowledge naturally from there. I use real animal examples, accurate scientific information and carefully structured activities that encourage children to think, question and explore rather than simply read and copy. Whether in a classroom, outdoor setting or home education environment, my approach is always to make learning feel like an adventure rather than a task.

One of my proudest achievements is seeing young people develop such a genuine understanding of animal welfare that they confidently correct others, including adults, on the proper handling of animals. Knowing that my sessions have instilled that level of knowledge and confidence in children is the most rewarding feedback I could receive. I have been invited to deliver talks to college students about my career journey into animal education and to run exotic animal workshops at further education level, recognition that my expertise is valued beyond primary age learners. A recent review from a teacher using my Urban Habitats resource pack captured exactly what I aim for: a parent noted that her daughter genuinely enjoyed the activities rather than feeling like it was school work, that it sparked meaningful conversations about the environment and that the critical thinking elements encouraged real engagement with conservation issues. Creating resources that feel like an adventure rather than a worksheet is always my goal.

I graduated from the University of Hull in 2012 with a degree in Animal Behaviour and Training, giving me a strong scientific foundation in animal science, ethology and welfare. I subsequently completed a Certificate in Education at the University of Sunderland, formally qualifying me as an educator and strengthening my ability to design and deliver effective learning experiences across different age groups and settings. I hold a Level 5 qualification in Health and Social Care, and maintain an Animal Performing Licence, demonstrating my commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare in educational settings. I hold current Safeguarding and Prevent Training certification, ensuring every session I deliver is safe, responsible and appropriate for young learners. I am committed to continuous professional development and regularly upskill to ensure everything I create reflects current legislation and best practice. Recent CPD includes Pollinators of the World, Rewilding Workshop and Mammals Under Threat, keeping my conservation and wildlife knowledge at the forefront of current scientific thinking.

I have always been that girl digging for worms, spending hours by the river, exploring woodland and riding through the countryside with nothing but curiosity and a love of the natural world. That lifelong passion for understanding nature drives everything I do, and fuels my enthusiasm for passing on knowledge and skills to others in the hope that one or two individuals will spark a genuine love and curiosity for the world around them. My Community Interest Company gives me access to hundreds of school children who would otherwise never get the opportunity to meet some of the incredible animals we share our planet with. Seeing their eyes light up with curiosity is my why, it always has been and always will be. My children's books extend that mission further, supporting children's learning through real life storytelling and bringing genuine environmental issues to the surface in a safe, compassionate and age-appropriate way. At home I share my life with an array of animals I am deeply connected to, including Zeus my Bosc Monitor, Poppy, Rosie and Belle my three rats, and Atlas my Barn Owl. They remind me daily why this work matters. My greatest hope is that my resources not only support teachers and reduce their workload, but stir something deeper, inspiring both children and adults to want to know more, and perhaps choose to make a difference for our natural world, however small that difference might be.