Dr Michelle Wisbey

Michelle’s expertise in early childhood education and practice. She has a particular interest in children risk taking and the Montessori Approach.

Email: [email protected]

Background

Michelle has over 25 years' experience running her own Montessori nurseries and pre-schools. She and her team currently run five Montessori nurseries and pre-schools in Essex.

Michelle is the Course Leader for the MA Education with Montessori and BA (Hons) Montessori Early Childhood Studies, along with continued involvement in the delivery and assessment of the new Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies. Additionally, she supervises undergraduates with their final year Major Projects and provides support to students throughout their studies.

Michelle has mentored and tutored students in Early Years education for the last eight years and has supported Early Years settings to achieve the best outcome possible in Ofsted inspections.

Her opportunity to work in settings with newly qualified Early Years teachers and leadership has led to the development of an interest in creating best practice models of practice both in the UK and in Malawi.

Research interests

• Montessori approach to education
• Sustainable early years education
• Children and their risk taking
• Early Years education in Malawi

Michelle is currently researching into the introduction of the Montessori Approach into early years centres in Malawi for the completion of her doctorate. With increasing interest in the Sustainable Development Goals and the importance of early years education to change lifetime outcomes for children. Michelle believes her research can inform change for early years education in developing countries.

Teaching

Michelle is Deputy Director for our EdD programme, supporting Doctoral students on their research journey. She also teaches on our BA (Hons) Montessori Early Childhood Studies and the MA Education degrees. Additionally, supervising undergraduates and postgraduates with their final year major projects and providing support to students throughout their studies.

Qualifications

• Doctorate of Education (EdD)
• BA (Hons) Montessori Early Childhood Studies
• BA (Hons) Early Years and Education
• MA Montessori with Education

Memberships, editorial boards

• HEA Fellowship

Selected recent publications

Wisbey, M. 2024. "Belonging through Funds of Knowledge". Direction Magazine, Issue 3, Winter 2024, Montessori Society (UK). View on Flipsnack.

Kanyal. M and Wisbey, M. 2024. "Children’s Rights", in Palaiologou, I (ed). The Early Years Foundation Stage 5th Edition: Theory and Practice. Chapter 4

Wisbey, M & Gray, L in Bradbury, A. Musgrave, J. & Perkins, H. (2023) A Practical Guide To Early Childhood Studies Graduate Practitioner Competencies. London. Learning Matters. View on Amazon.

Wisbey, M. (2022) Outdoor Education, Transformative Learning and Pedagogic Vulnerability. In Chistolini S. (a cura di) Outdoor education. Muoversi nello spazio mondo tra crestività, avventura, responsabilità. Milano: Franco Angeli.

Wisbey, M. (2021) "Outdoor Education e Forest School nel Regno Unito". In Chistolini S. (a cura di) L’asilo nel Bosco. La scuola aperta alla comunicazione sul territorio tra arte e comunità. Milano: Franco Angeli.

Recent presentations and conferences

• Presentation at Montessori Europe Research Conference
• Presentation at CARN, Manchester
• Presentation at Montessori Leadership Conference