Speakers

Ben Kingston-Hughes is an international keynote speaker, author and multi award-winning trainer. He is also the managing director of Inspired Children and has worked with vulnerable children across the UK for over 30 years. He has appeared on television several times working on a variety of children’s projects and his distinctive blend of humour, neuroscience and real-life practical experiences have made his training invaluable for anyone working with children. His new book, A Very Unusual Journey into Play is now available.

Julian Grenier is the headteacher of Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre in Newham, east London. Sheringham is a Research School. Julian was appointed by the Department for Education to lead on the 2020 revision of Development Matters, the non-statutory guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage in England. Julian has worked in the early years for over 20 years and has a Doctorate in Education from the UCL Institute of Education (University of London). He was awarded a CBE for services to early years education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, 2022.

EYFS leading authority
Licensed SchemaPlay™ Trainer
Former ‘Area SENDCo’
NSPCC trained trainer

Alison works in partnership with providers of the EYFS to empower, excite and enthuse owners, leaders and managers and ensures the professional growth of teams and individuals working with babies, young children and families in the EYFS.

Alison is a leading authority in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). With over 35 years of experience, she has had a range of roles and responsibilities within the early years sector. She has worked as an early years teacher and manager, area SENDCo and early years development officer for a local authority.

Alison provides advice, support, training and consultancy to owners, leaders and managers, and all those practicing and providing the EYFS. She travels across England and works effectively virtually, mentoring and coaching both nationally and internationally. Alison is particularly focused on deepening educators’ interactions with children and she does this through her highly acclaimed Teachable Moments Training.

Alison provides a holistic approach to continued professional and personal development and the perspectives teachers and educators need to inform their own growth. 

Alison is passionate about every child seeing themselves as a learner and the essential role of the adult in providing high-quality interactions, teachable moments and play opportunities and experiences that let children learn through their play.

Andy Burt is an experienced EYFS Teacher and School Leader who has explored open-ended, creative and innovative approaches to learning over a number of years. Research done in collaboration with Professor Pat Broadhead, focusing on Andy’s work, led to the exploration of ‘the whatever you want it to be place’ and the co-written text “Understanding Young Children’s Learning through Play” which was published by Routledge in 2011.

Janet is the Sector Manager for Education and Childcare at educational charity NCFE and plays a crucial role in developing new and existing qualifications under the CACHE brand, ensuring they are market leaders. Janet’s previous work has involved management in both Further and Higher Education across care provision and within social services and education.

Dawn has a wealth of experience working to improve outcomes with individuals from all different backgrounds. Before joining educational charity NCFE, Dawn supported people in the Asylum Seekers’ Unit of Newcastle, whilst completing some arts projects with a Young People's Service. Working as a careers advisor for the National Careers Service led to working in homelessness full time at a Young People’s hostel and with adults with multiple barriers. Since then, Dawn has worked in welfare to work, in front line youth work roles and, more recently, in a position which enables Dawn to ‘help the helpers’. As the Communities Manager for CACHE Alumni, Dawn manages careers support, resources and CPD for the collaborative association in care and education.

Matt is writing this bio in the third person because he’s not famous enough to have someone else do it for him (but he'd like to pretend). He spent his first four years at Famly looking after the Famly blog, but now spends his time on the story of what makes Famly different, helping them get to their mission to make early childhood truly valued. More recently, he's been looking after the project to entirely reinvent how people can use Famly to note, understand, and share child development, without interfering in it.

Cheryl has almost 30 years of experience within the early years and childcare sector.  On completion of the NNEB, Cheryl’s career has involved roles as a nanny, family support, LA advisor, SENCO, trainer, assessor, lecturer and quality inspector. Cheryl is now an early years consultant and trainer with her own company, Aperion Training. Cheryl has a passion and specialism for ensuring greater understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity, supporting early years settings and schools to become autism environment champions. Her work includes regular invitations to deliver seminars and training at key sector events and conferences as well as delivering webinars that have been watched worldwide. Cheryl was the winner of the national Nursery World Awards Trainer of the Year category 2022, with comments made in the nomination defining her passion, expertise and commitment to improve provision in early years for neurodivergent children and families.

Jan Dubiel is a nationally and internationally recognised specialist in early childhood education. He was identified recently by the Times Educational Supplement as one of the ten most influential people in British education,  

Having trained as an early years specialist, Jan worked as a nursery, reception and year 1 teacher, leading teams as an early years co-ordinator. Following roles as an early years consultant and senior adviser, he was appointed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to lead on the management of the (Early Years) Foundation Stage Profile, and had national responsibility for its implementation and moderation, developing guidance and support materials and working at a strategic level with policy makers.

He recently served on the Expert Advisory panel advising the DfE on the revision to the ELGs and EYFS Profile. Until April 2019 he was the head of national and international development at Early Excellence where he was responsible for developing EExBA, used by 12,000 schools as a Baseline Assessment, EExAT, and Birth to 7 tracking system and EExAQ, an international qualification for kindergarten teachers. From 2020 he has worked as the director for early years at AISL Harrow International Schools and Bilingual Kindergartens.

Jan has developed a national and international reputation as a conference speaker, consultant and trainer and he has written widely on different aspects of early years policy and practice, especially in terms of pedagogy, curriculum and assessment.

His first book Effective Assessment in the EYFS was published by SAGE in 2014, with a second edition published in 2016.

Sue is an experienced children’s services and education professional. In 2019 she established Ready Generations charity to research and develop thinking about the potential of intergenerational practice. In summer 2022, Ready Generations opened a fully integrated intergenerational nursery in the heart of a new build care village in Chester. The nursery operates an inclusive curriculum for both preschool children and older people.

Sue’s passion is to find ways to understand and improve relational connection, social cognition and emotional development. She believes this is central to everyone’s overall wellbeing, learning and enjoyment of all life has to offer. She is keen to use her knowledge to develop innovative services for children and older people together.

Sue was previously a director for Early Years and Integrated Leadership at the National College for School Leadership and a senior civil servant. In this role she advised the English Government on early childhood services across both education and health.

Sue is also a well-respected speaker and writer.

I have worked with children since 1999, starting out as Primary Teacher, then Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies and Forest Schools practitioner, Early Years Trainer / Consultant and Nursery Manager. I am Co-Founder/Manager of Growing Wild Outdoor Nursery and Co-Founder/National Trainer of Outdoors Thinking. My passion throughout has been in nature and the outdoors, sparked initially by a visit to British Columbia, Canada as a student, where I studied outdoor education for my dissertation.

Aaron Bradbury is an early childhood academic, paying close attention to all aspects of early years and child centred practice, workforce development, child development and early help. His current role is principal lecturer for Childhood and Early Years at Nottingham Trent University in the Institute of Social Sciences. Aaron also leads a national website and training organisation called Early Years Reviews.

Gemma Thomas-Bohr is an award-winning child development expert with over 13 years of experience in the sector. Gemma has helped support over 8,000 families feel confident during their early years journey.

Gemma’s journey started as a nursery practitioner in 2009 at an ‘Outstanding’ Nursery and she won Nursery Newcomer of the Year at the Nursery World Awards in 2009.

At only 21 Gemma started her own business in child development, focusing on the importance of using children’s senses. Gemma created Pure Imaginations in 2021 as a unique parent friendly imaginative experience providing classes for babies and children under the age of five, which won its first award after only being open four months at Essex Mums awards 2021.

Gemma has spoken on local radio, featured on national TV in Sam and Billie Faiers: The Mummy Diaries and has written several articles in the Early Years Educator Magazine. Gemma is leading the way in helping parents and educators on how to get the best for our children in those precious early years.

When Gemma is not inspiring parents or creating imaginative worlds for children, she is either outside amongst nature with her husband and Cavador dog – Bumble, or enjoying quality time with friends and family.

Currently doing psychology PhD research on the impact of outdoor learning, Gemma previously worked as a research and learning specialist for the Chartered College of Teaching and as an assistant headteacher and class teacher in primary schools in London. Gemma is also a freelance writer, trainer and speaker on the topics of outdoor education and learning environments and has co-authored a book with Guy Claxon, Powering up your school.

Pennie Akehurst is an author and leadership specialist with over 30 years’ experience in the early years sector, 17 of which were spent delivering strategic early years priorities in local authorities. During this time, she developed and implemented support programmes that enabled leadership teams to improve educational provision for children from birth to five and to manage changes to legislation.

Pennie now leads Early Years Fundamentals Ltd, a research, training and consultancy company focused on identifying and managing issues that affect outcomes for children, as well as inspection outcomes.

She has written three books including the bestseller ‘101 Audit questions to evaluate your practice and prepare for inspection’ through Practical Preschool Books and has contributed many articles to Nursery World Magazine.

Sue Asquith is an award-winning international early childhood consultant, with over 24 years of experience in the early years sector as a registered childminder, mentor affiliated with local children centres, college lecturer, associate trainer and assessor for various childcare charities. She has also worked on several DfE funded projects. Her work includes writing and delivering training, consultancy visits, writing blogs and delivering keynote speeches, seminars and workshops at conferences in the UK and around the world. Her book Self-Regulation Skills in Young Children was published in April 2020.

Kate is the managing director of Each Peach Childcare, Each Peach Forest School and co-founder of Peachwell Consultancy. As well as overseeing her own settings she supports and develops childcare establishments across the country. This has taken her to over 200 different settings which has elevated Kate to become a known figure in the childcare industry, famous for working tirelessly to promote practices that ensure children’s health and wellbeing are at the centre of childcare. Kate is passionate about high quality early education and care all day everyday for children in day care settings.

Neil is a former teacher, headteacher and creator of the original award winning storysack concept. He is an author of over 40 children’s books, has developed curriculum frameworks and contributed to many educational magazines.

He is currently a consultant with a main focus on reading, storytelling, play, leadership and learning styles. Internationally he has trained in over 60 countries and time spent with Neil will never be a dull experience!

Sue started as a teacher, finally becoming a senior early years lead in a primary school and lead teacher for her local authority.  Moving into research Sue gained an MA then a Doctorate, both in Early Childhood Education, from Sheffield University. This led to becoming a local authority early years adviser enabling her to develop her practice working with provision across the EYFS.   As an independent consultant, author and trainer, Sue is known for her practical style of working through coaching, mentoring, modelling, training and working alongside.

Kelly Hill has worked in the early years sector since leaving school. Starting as a Nursery Nurse, Kelly worked her way up to nursery manager, trainer and assessor and through to operations director before setting up and running Early Years Leadership CIC.

Degree qualified in both Early Years and Business & HR, Kelly has a wealth of knowledge to share with the sector. Kelly is passionate about leadership across the early years and strives to develop leaders to be the best they can be. As Founder and CEO of Early Years Leadership, Kelly hopes to support as many leaders and aspiring leaders to have a voice, share common experiences and come together to drive the sector forward. Kelly also owns her own early years setting, which keeps her knowledge and experience current.

Ruth has 28 years of experience in education, and has held a range of senior leadership roles including primary headship. Ruth has worked as a school improvement adviser, early years consultant and moderator in several local authorities and has a proven track record of supporting leaders and teachers to improve outcomes for pupils.

Passionate about education, Ruth has taught from nursery to year six. Ruth has experience of leading Ofsted inspections and also works with a range of MATS, teaching hubs, the LGA, schools and settings throughout the UK providing training, improvement advice, appraisal, coaching and mentoring. Ruth is the author of the Oxford International Early Years curriculum for 2-6 year olds, and co-editor of Early Childhood Theories Today, with Aaron Bradbury.

Dr Shaddai Tembo is a lecturer in early childhood studies (UK and China) at Bath Spa University and an associate lecturer at the Open University. He is a trustee for the Fatherhood Institute, and an independent writer and speaker through Critical Early Years. Shaddai is also currently engaged in a research project funded by the Froebel Trust on developing an anti-racist framework within Froebelian pedagogy.

Sharon is senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Bath Spa University and an associate trainer and researcher for the Centre for Research in Early Childhood Education (CREC). She is a trustee on the Froebel Trust Council and vice-chair on the Executive of the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN).

She has a diverse career background, working initially in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as a policy manager, owning a private day nursery, assessor for the award of EYPs, participating in the review of the Teacher Standards, and more recently working as project assistant for the development of Birth to Five Matters non-statutory guidance.

Sharon’s PhD research and interests are particularly concerned with play-based participatory pedagogies and its part in developing children’s mixed ethnic identity and cultural learning and development – especially learning and development informed by child-led perspectives. Sharon also has a deep interest and engages in work that develops anti-oppressive practice.

She is an active member of Early Childhood Education Research Association (ECERA), CREC learning circle, and Early Education.

Tamsin Grimmer is the early years director of Linden Learning and teaches on the Primary and Early Years PGCE Programme at Bath Spa University. She has a wealth of experience supporting early years teachers and educators. She is passionate about young children’s learning and believes that all children deserve educators who are inspiring, dynamic, reflective and loving. She has coined the phrase loving pedagogy and has a keen interest in schematic play, promoting positive behaviour, supporting children's emotional development and inclusion. Tamsin has also written several books aimed at educators including Developing a Loving Pedagogy in the Early Years.

Jo is a Highly Specialist Children's Physiotherapist working with families across the UK. She specialises in neurology and equine facilitated therapy; knowing and understanding all about how the brain works and how children develop through play and enriching experiences. She is a Mum to two boys, one neurotypical and the other autistic, ADHD with sensory processing disorder. So she also has first-hand experience navigating the health and education systems as an SEN mum.

Jo uses her experiences and knowledge as a parent-professional to help children to thrive and meet their true potential; whether that's in therapies, education, or day to day life. Jo is extremely passionate about breaking down the barriers of stereotypical clinical work and traditional teaching having seen the need for this with her own son. Jo runs a hugely successful and pioneering service that provides fun, back to nature opportunities in the outdoors to enrich children's experiences and enhance development. Jo supports children, their parents and professionals to get the best from their SEN journey by helping them to see the benefits in getting outdoors and away from traditional delivery. Jo not only works face to face with families, but also online in her powerful community membership The Therapy Toolkit Hub. Jo delivers support through her podcast, webinars, workshops and training to support families and professionals to be empowered and enable all children to thrive.

Gary is the executive headteacher of a Federation of two special schools and one specialist college in Birmingham. He has experience of working with children and young people between the ages of 2-25. Gary has worked within the early years sector for a number of years, within both mainstream and special educational needs. He has also supported the development of a special educational needs strategy with the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi.

He is passionate about ensuring that every child has access to a meaningful and inclusive education, which supports their wider life goals and development. He is also a Makaton regional tutor and uses his knowledge of communication to support his work in providing inclusive practice for all children.
 
He is passionate about ensuring that every child has access to a meaningful and inclusive education, which supports their wider life goals and development. He is also a Makaton regional tutor and uses his knowledge of communication to support his work in providing inclusive practice for all children.

Charlotte Dunster-Page is a principal clinical psychologist who is passionate about infant mental health and preventative family work. She works within the NHS, leading Bradford’s Infant Mental Health Service. She has also founded Born to Bond, a Community Interest Company, to deliver training to professionals, students and volunteers who work with families and to work directly with families. Born to Bond’s vision is that all babies receive nurturing, responsive care which supports their wellbeing and development. Evidence-based information is also published on social media as an alternative to the easily accessible parenting myths.

Greg is the author of the bestselling books ‘Can I Go and Play Now?’, ‘School and the Magic of Children’ and ‘Love Letters to Play’. He is also the creator of Drawing Club, The Message Centre, Play Projects and Adventure Island, all of which are deeply embedded in his belief that education can and must be done with children and not to them. Passionate about the role of story dreaming, magic, adventure and joy, Greg is currently on ‘the quest’ to reclaim childhood...so Join him!

Adam Marycz is an ‘Outstanding’ early years teacher (EYTS), setting manager and early years adviser. He has been working in early years for over 13 years (eight of which have been as a manager.)

Adam has also worked as a freelance writer for a wide range of early years organisations including Tapestry, Famly, and Teach Early Years. His most prominent work in this field however is with Early Years Educator Magazine as a member of their editorial board, a writer and notably as editor and co-creator of the supplement Practice Insight – Provocations for learning from across the sector.

Adam holds EYTS, BA (Hons) and is currently completing an MA in Early Childhood.

David Wright is the former owner, now ambassador for Paint Pots Nurseries. He is the 2022 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Nursery World in recognition of his wide-ranging activities across the early childhood education (ECE) sector globally. David is the national representative for the World Forum on ECE and chair of its Men in ECE working group. He is an author, presenter, trainer, broadcaster, commentator and advisor on early years. He is involved in several charities supporting children across the world.

Dr John Siraj-Blatchford is an independent educational researcher and consultant, and an honorary Professor at the University of Plymouth.  He is also an Executive Member of OMEP UK, and co-founded SchemaPlay CIC . John was previously employed at the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education and served as an Associate Director of the ESRC Teaching and Learning Research Programme.  He is currently providing leadership for the OMEP UK Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Citizenship Award Scheme, and is actively promoting effective learning through Play in the UK and more widely.

Caprice Fox is a Black, queer cisgender woman and her pronouns are she/her. She has been a primary school educator in Bristol for the past six years and for the past two years has worked for a charity, Black Mothers Matter UK, as a group facilitator and content creator. She works passionately to support under-represented groups who do not see themselves in the classroom as well as supporting educators to have diverse and inclusive learning environments and ensuring they are being actively anti-racist in their practice.

Imogen Edmunds is Managing Director of Redwing Solutions Ltd, the UK’s largest HR Consultancy specialising in Early Years and Childcare. Established in 2004, Redwing supports Day Nurseries, Pre-schools and Out of School Clubs throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Imogen has 30 years’ experience in HR Management.

Co-founder of Riverside Training Company, Jill Wheatcroft MSc, BSc Community Childrens Nursing, RSCN  Post Grad Dip Academic Practice, First Aid Instructor, A1 Assessor has extensive experience as a Paediatric Nursing Sister and Lecturer in Child Health. Her depth of knowledge of childcare in home, community and hospital settings enables her to support others working in the childcare sector, as well as providing sound well thought out advice and support for families, underpinned by her extensive knowledge. Jill, co-founder of Riverside Training Company, established 1989, has always been passionate about ensuring children’s safety and well-being.

Hayley is one of the Executive Headteachers of Roots Federation. Hayley previously held the role of deputy Headteacher, with a responsibility for Early Years, at a three-form entry primary school. She then worked as an Early Years adviser for HfL Education, a quality improvement company commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council. In this role Hayley provided consultancy and delivered training to Early Years schools and settings in Hertfordshire and beyond. She is passionate about improving the quality of Early Years education.

I have worked in early years for over 10 years, starting my career in a KS1 Department as a Teaching Assistant. I then moved to join Busy Bees in 2015 as a QEYE and progressed to Assistant Manager whilst completing my Degree in Childhood Education.

In 2018 I joined the Busy Bees Academic and Research Team where I supported the development of Unleashing Potential (UP); Busy Bees’ unique learning and development programme, delivered through a digital application. The programme is available for all Busy Bees educators and parents and is used in the UK, Australia and Jersey with over 40,000 users worldwide. As part of this role, I have been fortunate enough to research practice globally, travelling to work with colleagues in Singapore and Malaysia.

In 2022 I joined the Busy Bees Quality Team; I support a group of nurseries in the North West of England with the delivery of the curriculum and thrive from seeing the progress our centres, team and most importantly the children make each day.

I am a strong believer in play-based learning and committed to highlighting the importance of early years education.

Phil has been working in the early years for over thirty years. Starting as a teacher, he has been a headteacher, a local authority deputy director and the CEO of a multi-academy trust. Phil is a Senior His Majesty’s Inspector for early education. He is Ofsted’s specialist in Early Years and Primary education and is part of the team who develop and monitor the inspection framework for both schools and early years.

Gabrielle is an experienced inclusion specialist who has worked in the education sector for the last 15 years, both UK wide and internationally. She works with educators, parents, education providers, charities and healthcare specialists to ensure they understand and can support the needs of each unique learner in the best way possible.