Cat

Cat is a fully qualified Forest School Leader (Level 3), early years teacher, and SENDCo with over a decade of experience helping children learn and thrive. She believes the outdoors is one of the most powerful classrooms we have — a place where children can grow in confidence, resilience, and curiosity.

Her teaching career has spanned nursery, reception, and primary years, and since 2018 she has combined this with her role as SENDCo in Maidstone. Alongside her teaching, she has led on developing inclusive practice, securing support for families, and working closely with local authorities and external professionals.

Cat was instrumental in establishing a dedicated Forest School site in partnership with Maidstone Borough Council, transforming unused land into a thriving outdoor learning environment. Her work blends the child-led philosophy of Forest School with a deep commitment to inclusion, ensuring every child — whatever their needs — can feel a sense of belonging outdoors.

Her professional journey has also been shaped by personal experience: supporting her own child through a medical diagnosis gave Cat a profound empathy for parents navigating additional needs. This continues to inform her work with children and families, grounding her approach in compassion as well as expertise.

Outside of teaching, Cat volunteers with Scouts (Squirrels section) and supports local Forest School holiday clubs, extending her passion for outdoor learning into the community.

Matt

Matt brings a hands-on, practical creativity to Wild Together. With a background in woodworking, welding, and building, he has a knack for turning ideas into something tangible.

Whether it’s crafting outdoor resources, shaping learning environments, or designing tools that make teaching easier, Matt’s role is about bridging ideas and reality. His experience coaching youth football also brings a love of teamwork, encouragement, and growth, while his passion for music and writing keep creativity at the heart of everything he does.

Matt’s role in Wild Together is less about being out front, and more about enabling — making sure that the ideas, plans, and vision have the practical backbone to become real. From building physical resources to designing digital systems behind the scenes, he ensures that what’s imagined can also be lived and experienced.