The Team

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Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies and Learning and Teaching Fellow

Chantelle Haughton is qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader and works as part of the current team providing Level 1 and Level 3 Forest School training and Outdoor Education courses to practitioners and students. In addition to her lecturing role and other research Chantelle regularly works with practitioners, children and young adults including those with Special Educational Needs on Forest School and Outdoor based projects which are supported by student volunteers. Chantelle currently runs two ‘weekly’ projects on a voluntary basis, she will be running a series of days in summer 2013 with various schools and local groups these sessions are all supported and observed by students.


One recent project ran for a whole academic year and a report was written in collaboration with Martin Cook and Forestry Commission Wales which has been published online. A Year Long Forest School Project – The Queens Wood Report – is a reflective account which reports on experiences in Forest School. (See appendix B). Chantelle joined Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2008 as a lecturer in Early Childhood Studies and Educational Studies.


Previously, Chantelle worked supporting children and families in a range of settings. Coordinating a number of community projects and relative school initiatives has provided Chantelle with the basis for her research interests, which reflect on real life practice through engagement with stakeholders. As an early career researcher Chantelle has participated in capacity-building research and enterprise projects funded by WERN, ESRC and HEFCW. In 2012, Chantelle was successful in gaining Internal Research Funds for a pilot study project to work with practitioners to explore perceptions of Outdoor Learning and Forest School. In 2012, she also was successful in gaining SEED funding which was used for the development of the ‘Woodland Story Circle’ and to fund a guest speaker on the ‘Reading For pleasure conference’. Chantelle received the Vice Chancellor’s staff award for excellence for her community engagement work in Outdoor Learning and also the Student Led teaching Fellowship for Inspiring Teaching. Chantelle is currently undertaking a PhD study into contemporary understandings and interpretation of the Forest School ethos. Chantelle is a volunteer advisor for Forest School Wales, a member of The Woodlands for Learning Forum and Early Childhood Association. Chantelle is also a member of the Real World Learning Cymru Partnership (RWLCP) and a board member of Outdoor Learning Wales Training Network (OLWTN).