Samantha has been teaching at Bishop Grosseteste University since 2012, initially as a visiting tutor and as a full-time member of staff from 2020. Prior to joining BGU full time, she has worked in a variety of early years settings, as well as managing and co-owning two early years settings in Lincolnshire. Samantha also has experience inspecting early years provision.

She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is currently undertaking her PhD. Her PhD research focuses on the experiences of working mothers and how they position their identity. Samantha has a keen interest in the power dynamics involved in research, exploring a range of methods and approaches, including photo elicitation, online interviewing and quilting as ways and means to share power and present research findings.

Samantha teaches on the undergraduate Early Childhood Studies programme and teaching interests include policy, provision and practice, outdoor play, children’s rights, and risky play, as well as an array of contemporary issues which impact the sector. Building on research from her Master's, Samantha has a strong interest in early years professionalism and the continued development of the early years sector and is Co-Chair for the Professionalism and Workforce Strategy group (PAWS) as part of the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network (ECSDN).