Learning, Education & Development Research Centre
About the Learning, Education & Development Research Centre
The Learning, Education and Development (LED) research centre focuses on supporting practitioners to develop research-informed practice, publish high quality research that has impact on policy and practice.
We work across early years, children’s workforce, primary schooling, secondary schooling, outdoor learning, youth work, further and higher education.
If you work with children, young people or adult learners and are interested in developing research-informed practice then the team here at LED want to work with you.
Social Justice Seminar Series 2026
The launch of our Social Justice Seminar Series took place on Monday 2 February with a talk by Professor Sally Elton-Chalcraft who shared methodological issues surrounding her research in India 2025. Below are recordings of all seminars that have taken place so far.
Charlotte Mason Centenary Events 2023
2023 marked 100 years since Charlotte Mason's death in her beloved House of Education here at the Ambleside Campus of the University of Cumbria. Through these events we commemorate and celebrate her pioneering educational legacy, which still resonates today. We believe her ideas and principles about how children and young people learn are even more fundamental now as they were then. Recordings of talks from the Centenary events are below.
17th November 2023: Expert Panel of Charlotte Mason Scholars and Practitioners | University of Cumbria
Watch video of the talk26th October 2023: Adventures with the Morecambe Bay Curriculum | Presented By Chris Barlow | University of Cumbria
Watch video of the talk20th September 2023: Charlotte Mason Part 2 - Margaret Coombs hosted by Sally Elton-Chalcraft
Watch video of the talk8th February 2023: Charlotte Mason Centenary event hosted by Prof Sally Elton-Chalcraft (University of Cumbria) and Faye Morrissey (Armitt Museum).
Powerpoint - The Thirteenth Child and her Secrets Part 1: The early life of Charlotte Mason
Watch video of the talk6th March 2023: Carroll Smith 'Mason for the 21st Century' hosted by Sally Elton-Chalcraft.
Powerpoints: 6th March Carroll Smith Mason in 21st century
Watch video of the talkMay 2023:
John Thorley -
Charlotte Mason and the Bradford and Gloucestershire projectsPowerpoint -
Presentation23rd May 2023: Home Learning Environments for Young Children with Cathy Nutbrown. Hosted by Sally Elton-Chalcraft.
Powerpoint (narrated): Cathy Nutbrown - Ambleside
Watch video of the talk19th June 2023: Realising a pedagogy: Charlotte Mason - Timeless truths, Teaching & Learning. 1. Beckman, 2. Cooper, hosted by Elton-Chalcraft Charlotte Mason series-2023 Hosted by Sally Elton-Chalcraft.
Watch video of the talk
