Kate Webber is a play pedagogy consultant and passionate advocate for child-led, outdoor, and curiosity-driven learning. She brings a wealth of diverse experiences from across Aotearoa’s alternative and progressive education landscape.

Kate began her journey into play-based learning in 2015 as a classroom teacher, where she introduced play into her own practice and began professional learning with Longworth Education. Her commitment to growing her understanding of child development and self-directed learning led her to step out of the classroom and into a variety of new contexts.

She has worked in an early childhood centre grounded in the Pikler and RIE philosophies, facilitated loose parts and outdoor play programmes with Conscious Kids, and trained in Non-Violent Communication. In 2018, Kate became co-founder of Ako, a small alternative school in Auckland with a focus on play-based, outdoor, and self-directed education.

In 2019, Kate launched the podcast A Shared Curiosity, which has since evolved into a consultancy supporting new, progressive educational initiatives around the motu. She continues to lead Junky Monkeys, an Auckland-based loose parts play provider and valued friend of Longworth Education.

Kate’s work is rooted in deep respect for children, for nature, and for the shared learning journey of educators and whānau alike.