While we await the release of the 2024 seminar and workshop programme, feel free to explore the programme from our 2023 event below.
CPD Seminar & Panel Discussion Programme
Friday 22nd September
Saturday 23rd September
10.30am – 11:15am: Provocations for Play
Alice Sharp, Early Years Consultant, Author and Trainer
In the first six years of life, the way children learn to play, the resources they play with and the kind of engagement they ‘step’ into will contribute enormously to their development and lay foundations for learning. Environments should provide a place where children have opportunities to explore, learn and develop with the support of sensitive, knowledgeable adults. There should be access to prompts, artefacts and provocations to stimulate ideas and thoughts. This session will explore ideas and solutions, developing critical thinking and creativity from mark making to writing, words to conversations and counting to number bonds!
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
10.30am – 11:15am: The Magic of Conversations
Alice Sharp, Early Years Consultant, Author and Trainer
Our Play should engage children in a world where there is lots to discover and be curious about. Where their engagement is deep and full of questions to be asked with not just one answer. The play should be full of moments where the need to talk is bursting from every child.
Our play offer should look to involve children in opportunities that are often suggested and shaped by themselves, sometimes initiated by an adult and at other times shaped by a shared conversation.
This session will focus in on:
• where words begin, in the brain
• how they are shaped by time and exposure to vocabulary
• the importance of multi-sensory stimulation
• offering rich opportunities to use real catalysts, imaginary and contextual situations to promote speaking skills
• fully considering receptive language, expressive language, the use of language and fluency
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
11.30am – 12.15pm: Speech, Language and Communication Needs and the Impact on Emotional Wellbeing
Becky Poulter Jewson, Directors of Early Years, Thriving Language
Rebecca Skinner, Speech and Language Therapist, Thriving Language
Exploring communication and the relationship between this and emotional wellbeing and health.
What impact can communication difficulties have on a child now and in their future?
The role of the educator in understanding the child’s communication needs.
Using natural learning opportunities to enhance speech and language development.
Kinder Education – what does this really look and feel like and what does it mean for our children now and in the future?
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
12.30pm – 1.30pm: Panel Discussion: Navigating Ofsted – Challenges and Advice
Sarah Mackenzie, CEO, Storal
Helen Donohoe, Chief Executive, Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years
Neil Leitch OBE, Chief Executive, Early Years Alliance
Linda Baston-Pitt, Workforce Specialist, NDNA
Lorna Wigley, Quality & Training Director, Childbase Partnership
Gill Jones MBE, Group Chief Quality Officer & Safeguarding Lead, Busy Bees Nurseries
Join panelists as they address the challenges facing the sector surrounding Ofsted inspections and unite to share advice for practical solutions. This discussion will cover areas including:
• Ofsted inspections – what’s working and what isn’t.
• The role of Ofsted in sector challenges – what role they are playing and could play.
• Navigating Ofsted inspections – advice for managing inspections in the current climate.
• The future of Ofsted inspections – a sector vision for the future.
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
12.30pm – 1.30pm: Panel Discussion: Exploring and Supporting Children’s Speech, Language & Communication
Sue Asquith, Early Childhood Consultant
Emma Pinnock, CEO, Essential Education Group Ltd
Angharad Welch, Owner, Find the Key Speech and Language Therapy
Joanne Jones, Consultant Speech and Language Therapist & Founder of The Home Can-Do
Paul Moore, CPD Manager at Busy Bees Education and Training
Caroline Wright, Director of Early Childhood, Bright Horizons
Join this engaging discussion that will explore insights and strategies to help understand and support speech, language and communication needs for all children across the early years and primary, including those with SEND. The discussion will cover areas including:
• The connection between speech, language and communication and children’s behavior and well-being.
• Social skills – are they a positive or a negative? When should we be delivering social skills and how.
• The importance of sensory-motor skills for communication development.
• Identifying communication needs in children learning English as an Additional Language.
• The potential mismatch between expression and receptivity and how to be aware of this potential difference to support emotions and learning.
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
1.45pm – 2.30pm: Embedding a Neuroinclusive Early Years Culture Where ALL Children Can Thrive
Cheryl Warren, Director, Aperion Training
Navigating the world as a neurotypical child, figuring out who you are, the social cues you need to learn, is complex. Your body and brain are processing, categorising, banking the memories and strengthening the neural pathways to be used later. But what if none of this makes sense at all? What if you understand and process the world completely differently to everyone else? How are you supported in your early years to understand, to be accepted for your unique differences and to thrive? We will consider what, why and how of neurodiversity. What is neuroinclusion and neuroaffiming practice? Why do we need to ensure we embed it within our curriculum and our pedagogy? and how do we go about doing that?
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
1.45pm – 2.30pm: Provocations to Encourage Creativity
Leslie Patterson, Education Consultant, Finding the Magic in the Early Years
Creativity is much more than artistic expression; it has a place in all areas of learning and is deeply connected to the Characteristics of Effective Learning. Often creativity is an indicator of strong progress. How we set up our provision and choose to offer resources can make huge difference. This seminar considers how a range of stimuli can act as provocations which encourage children to approach learning imaginatively and creatively.
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
2.45pm – 3.30pm: Ofsted Early Years Update
Sally Wride, Senior His Majesty’s Inspector, Early Years, West Midlands, Ofsted
Hayley Lapworth, Early Years Senior Officer, Ofsted
Ofsted representatives will share updates in respect of their inspection work. They will also provide curriculum updates and reflect on the ‘Best start in life’ research findings.
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
2.45pm – 3.30pm: Recruiting and Retaining Talent in Early Years & Primary
Imogen Edmunds, CEO, Redwing Solutions Ltd
In this seminar we will take the audience through the practical steps that can be taken to address the difficulties in recruiting and retaining talent in the sector. There has been much written about how difficult it is to recruit and retain the childcare workforce. Whilst this remains true, many employers are finding success, so this is a positive seminar taking attendees through what is working for others and might work for them. In the seminar we will cover:
• Giving yourself the best chance to attract talent to your setting
• How to retain the talent you have attracted through employee engagement
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
Free Interactive Workshops Programme
Friday 22nd September
Saturday 23rd September
10.30am – 11:15am: Let’s MOVE together!
Amanda Frolich, Owner & Director, Amanda’s Action Club
Calling ALL early year’s educators. We are the role models for children, so let’s move together. Come and join this workshop to feel energised whilst learning how to confidently deliver a 30 minute physical development session into your setting. Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
10.30am – 11:15am: The Art of Storytelling
Olivia Corbin-Phillip, Early Years & Literacy Consultant, Stories with Liv
We all have a story to tell, but do we have the confidence to make our voices heard? That’s what we want for the children in our care, to tell their own story far and wide.
Storytelling is a great way to inspire and empower children. This active and fun introduction to storytelling will help anyone working with children bring stories to life with some hands-on tips that you can implement straight away.
Let’s upgrade your story times with fun, interactive drama techniques that will help you move away from the carpet and go beyond the book!
Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
12.30pm – 1:15pm: Benefits of Nature Play for Children
Melanie Fisher, Early Years Advisor & Cheryl Davis, Early Childhood Specialist, Bright Horizons
Research proves that children who regularly play outside tend to be healthier and happier than those who spend their time playing inside.
We know that playing outside supports children to experience taking risks, it encourages independence and the development of social skills. At a time when child obesity is at an all-time high, it enables children to be more physically active and as a bonus, teaches them about the beauty of our natural world.
At Bright Horizons we offer a range of outside activities that include forest schools and nature play. During this session we will consider all the benefits of outdoor play and experience some of the learning opportunities we provide to our children.
Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
12.30pm – 1:15pm: Super Sounds! A Fantastically Fun Pre-Phonics Journey!
Emma Spiers, Independent Early Learning Consultant, Trainer and Author, The Learning Lady
Super Sounds is an all-singing, all-dancing, pre-phonics workshop that you just can’t miss! This fun-filled, jam-packed workshop includes EVERYTHING you need to prepare your 2, 3 and 4-year-olds for Phonics when they begin school. You’ll learn what comes before phonics and why, by joining in with heaps of easy-peasy hands-on games and super simple activities that your children WILL LOVE. Full of story suggestions, assessment solutions and top tips for sharing with families, you’ll leave this workshop buzzing and ready to get started with pre phonics STRAIGHT AWAY!
Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
2.30pm – 3:15pm: Fun Language Learning to set Children on a Path to Success
Anna Neville, CEO & Founder, Kidslingo
Cristina West, Franchisee, Kidslingo
Amy Archer, Franchisee, Kidslingo
Learning a language enhances children’s cultural capital, giving them the best possible start to their early education and supporting their roles as effective global citizens. Early childhood is the most rapid period of development in a human life and the key time to start language learning. Children’s minds are more flexible than adults, allowing for quicker, easier and more efficient language learning.
With 2 short back-to-back French and Spanish sessions this workshop will demonstrate some fun activities and songs that can be used to develop second language skills in young children.
Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
2.30pm – 3:15pm: Discovering Loose Parts Play
Ruth Richardson, Early Years Development Officer & Alison Heseltine, Early Years Development Manager, Early Years Alliance
Do you know how playing with loose parts builds on children’s learning? Want to promote curiosity and creativity in young children?
Join us for this interactive workshop where we will:
• Introduce you to the endless possibilities of loose parts play
• Explore the benefits to children’s learning through loose parts in children’s play
• Share tips to help you build your loose parts provision
Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
Wellbeing Workshops Programme
Friday 22nd September
Saturday 23rd September
11.35am – 12:20pm: Creating a Positive, Mindful Environment
Shelley Smith, Integrative Psychotherapist & Trainer, Sunrise Wellbeing Partnership C.I.C.
This session looks at how you can create a positive, safe space for the children in your care. As humans we only thrive when our environment is safe and supportive, this includes offering calming spaces, time to check in with feelings and to develop a holistic approach through understanding sensory breaks and how mindful strategies can support children navigate their day. Included will be an opportunity to reflect on your setting environment and how you can build a holistic ‘hygge’ feeling, providing a comfortable environment for children away from anything emotional overwhelming to calm the nervous system and activate the soothing system.
Location: Exhibition Floor, Wellbeing Workshop Area
11.35am – 12:20pm: Finding Your Red Thread: From Languish to Love in Early Years Education
Lucy Lewin, Founder, The Profitable Nursery Academy
This interactive workshop is aimed at rekindling the passion in early years educators experiencing languish—a state of stagnation—in their work. The workshop highlights the neuroscience behind work attitudes, reframing failure, and exploring empowering mindsets. At its core, participants identify their ‘Red Thread,’ the aspects of work that bring joy, through a reflective activity using a red ribbon. The workshop concludes with strategies to incorporate this ‘Red Thread’ into daily work, fostering fulfilment and love for their roles, moving them from languish to love.
Location: Exhibition Floor, Wellbeing Workshop Area
1.35pm – 2:20pm: Harnessing Super Powers to Support Children’s Emotional Wellbeing
Alison Knowles, Founder & Creator, Ollie and his Super Powers
This dynamic session equips you with practical strategies to nurture children’s emotional development through storytelling and play. Celebrate children’s unique strengths, explore emotions as Super Powers, and teach self-regulation using superhero-themed techniques. Build resilience and problem-solving skills through imaginative activities, fostering empathy and connection. This workshop empowers you to create a supportive environment where children can understand and manage their emotions while embracing their inner superheroes. Join us and transform your childcare practices!
Location: Exhibition Floor, Wellbeing Workshop Area
1.35pm – 2:20pm: Inspiring More Movement, More Often. Let’s Play!
Natalie Weir, PhD Researcher and Founder of Inspector Play
All children, regardless of their background or circumstances, should be supported to develop positive relationships with movement from the earliest opportunity. Unfortunately, existing physical inequalities have widened since COVID-19, and sedentary behaviours increased. These trends will have significant implications for motor and cognitive development, cardiovascular, bone, and mental health, as well as an increased risk of obesity.
The workshop will explore through a physical literacy lens and how to extend active play to all areas of the early years/KS1/2 curriculum, whilst delving into the opportunities and challenges of incorporating movement at varying intensities. Expect fun practical activity ideas and movement!
Location: Exhibition Floor, Wellbeing Workshop Area
Meet Our Wonderful Speakers
Alice Sharp
Alice Sharp’s Bio
Alice is an award-winning teacher, trainer, author and entrepreneur!
As I look back at those early steps into adult life; first as an undecided Civil Servant, then as a determined teacher and finally that giant whole-hearted step into the world of early childhood, I feel real gratitude that I found my way into this world of infinite possibility.
The driving force behind everything that I have done and continue to do is the overwhelming desire to make a positive difference on the lives of practitioners and the children in their care. What we do matters; every minute of every day!
Alison Heseltine
Alison Heseltine’s Bio
My current role as an early years development manager has provided me with many new and exciting opportunities to develop my passion for giving children the best start in life. My role includes project management, delivering sessions to families, supporting colleagues across our services and the development of training materials for educators.
It is a privilege to have worked with children, families and educators in the early years sector for over 20 years.
Alison Knowles
Alison Knowles’ Bio
Ali Knowles is a successful emotional therapist, author, public speaker, and award-winning NLP trainer. Her unique perspective empowers individuals, including children, to find solutions from within. Originally a cognitive hypnotherapist, Ali’s passion for learning led her to gain expertise in NLP and CBT, creating the Ollie Model – a simple therapeutic approach to emotional control. As demand grew, Ali trained others from diverse backgrounds, including hairdressers, parents, and social workers, establishing the Ollie School in 2018. With her Ollie Coaches, Ali works with schools, adoption agencies, and charities, focusing on children and those with special educational needs. Ali’s core belief is that no children are inherently bad; their environment plays a crucial role. Her dyslexia, once seen as a hindrance, ultimately led her to a fulfilling career path after leaving sales roles in the construction industry.
Amanda Frolich
Amanda Frolich’s Bio
Amanda Frolich is an award-winning children’s activity provider and CEO of Amanda’s Action Club, an innovative physical development concept teaching children how to be active and healthy from an early age. Amanda created Movement Matters with Alison Featherbe, so that together they can bring inspirational movement sessions for children and break down the learning and knowledge that children are gaining from their activities and experiences.
Amy Archer
Amy Archer’s Bio
Amy is a very experienced Kidslingo teacher and has been running a thriving Kidslingo franchise for over 6 years. Alongside her growing team, she runs French and Spanish clubs and classes in early years settings and primary schools across the North Birmingham area.
Angharad Welch
Angharad Welch’s Bio
Angharad Welch is an experienced Speech and Language Therapist who runs her own Therapy business, Find the Key Speech and Language Therapy. She has worked with children in all stages of education, and has extensive experience working with children with complex developmental needs in the Early Years.
Angharad believes that Early Years Practitioners are some of our most skilled educators, and wishes that everyone else could see that too! Great environments and skilled child-led interactions are some of our most powerful tools for supporting early communication. Valuing the child and meeting them where they are is central to inclusive practise. Early Years has these things in spades.
Angharad is based in Herefordshire and works with children, families and settings across the age range.
Anna Neville
Anna Neville’s Bio
Anna Neville is the Founder and CEO of Kidslingo, a leading multi-award-winning kids’ language franchise offering fun French & Spanish classes to over 25,000 young children every week in nurseries, schools, private homes and venues. Anna is a passionate believer in introducing languages to children as young as possible via Kidslingo’s fun teaching methodology that combines songs, games, story-telling, actions and let’s pretend.
Becky Poulter Jewson
Becky Poulter Jewson’s Bio
Becky has over 25 years experience working with children and families as a qualified Early Years Lead and is the Director of Early Years and author for Thriving Language Community Interest Company. She has led and developed teams of successful early years educators within children’s centres and the private sector. Having owned her own nursery and preschool, she has developed free flow provision and language rich learning environments throughout the country. Becky is an early years lead for Forest School, working with families and children. Becky believes that empowering individuals to thrive and helping to create future generations is probably the best career in the world! She is a passionate advocate for early years and supports many further teaching and learning facilities.
Caroline Wright
Caroline Wright’s Bio
Caroline is our Director of Early Childhood and leads Bright Horizons’ Early Childhood team.
Her team is responsible for developing and leading best practice in teaching and learning across all of our nurseries. They are continually making a positive contribution to national policy, representing Bright Horizons in discussions around Early Childhood development in the UK.
Caroline has a strong background in Early Years care and education, including previous experience as Director of Early Years Education for two nursery groups in the UK, and EYFS Manager with a Local Authority. Caroline was an Early Years inspector and RgNI (Registered Nursery Inspector) in Ofsted, and was the East of England lead for Early Years Teacher Training, working closely with universities and The National College of Teaching and Leadership. Prior to joining Bright Horizons, Caroline was a lecturer of Early Childhood Studies on graduate and post graduate programmes at Doncaster University College.
Her former research and publications include a focus on the importance of induction in Early Years to have a positive impact on practice, and how the foundations for a Professional Learning Community improve practice in nurseries across the UK.
Cheryl Davis
Cheryl Davis’ Bio
I am Early Childhood Specialist and have been with Bright Horizons for over 2 years. I have 20 years’ experience in Early Years and have worked in a range of roles from room leader, to manager to Early Years advisor and now my role at Bright Horizons. Loose parts, nature play and outdoors are a particular passion of mine in early years and I have been lucky enough to see forest schools in action in Denmark during my career. I believe providing children with things they can be curious about to provide that awe and wonder especially benefits them outdoors.
Cheryl Warren
Cheryl Bedding’s Bio
Cheryl is currently working with many nurseries and early years settings in a range of ways offering training, SEND qualifications and for some in an ongoing relationship as their SEND consultant. Cheryl shares her passion, commitment and experiences from almost 30 years in the early years sector and as a parent of a neurodivergent child. Cheryl has delivered webinars nationally and internationally, including in India, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Jamaica, and this year has been asked to be a judge at NMT’s prestigious awards evening for the SEND category. Cheryl has spoken previously at both Coventry and London Childcare & Education Expo’s, LEYF strategy conferences, the UK nanny conferences and webinars for Kinderly learn.
Cristina West
Cristina West’s Bio
Cristina is half Spanish has been a Kidslingo franchisee since 2017, successfully running clubs and classes in early years settings and primary schools in the Nuneaton & Hinckley area. Her business has gone from strength to strength winning both local and national awards including Best Business Manager/Activity Leader in the What’s on 4 Kids Awards and The Little Ankle Biters Awards for Best Children’s Activity in Warwickshire.
Emma Pinnock
Emma Pinnock’s Bio
As an educator Emma has had a rich and varied career. She has been a teacher for 14 years, working in a range of environments such as PRU’s, Hospital schools, Special schools and Mainstream education. Emma has also been in a range of senior management roles for 8 years and in her most recent role, as the Head of a specialist provision, focused on the needs and education of children with autism.
Emma’s passion to support SEND has derived from her personal Journey. This has led to her belief in people’s abilities to overcome barriers and difficulties. Emma is solution focused, strategic and has the ability to develop vision for schools, organisations and families. Emma has both personal and professional experience of living with special educational needs which uniquely impacts her ability and insights. She strives to encourage people to see past their comfort zones, to be solution focused despite the difficulties and to stretch themselves past the norm.
Emma Spires
Emma Spires’s Bio
Emma Spiers is The Learning Lady! An author, consultant and former Early Years Ofsted Inspector. With over 25 years experience in the Early Years sector, she works nationally and internationally to provide training and advisory services across academy trusts, local authorities, schools, nursery chains, charities and PVI settings.
Emma is a ‘hands on’ trainer and a pre-phonics expert, inspiring practitioners everywhere through fun and engaging practical workshops. Emma is full of ideas, believing that quality learning can be simple and easy to achieve, without costing the earth.
Emma’s prephonics book ‘Super Sounds’ has a five star Amazon rating, being a Teach Early Years finalist in 2022. She is on a mission to help practitioners and parents understand the essential prephonic development children need to be school ready. Emma set up the popular Learning Lady You Tube channel in 2020 where there’s heaps of free information for everyone working with 2,3 and 4 year olds.
Gill Jones MBE
Gill Jones’ Bio
Gill Jones is currently working for Busy Bees Nurseries, as their international quality lead. Gill started her career over 40 years ago as a teacher in Essex, moving to Wirral following her marriage and shortly after becoming an advisory teacher for music at the start of the National Curriculum. She was promoted to deputy head and later to headteacher of several primary schools. She worked for the National College of School Leadership (NCSL) as a network lead, training headteachers and as an assessor for the NPQH and other leadership programmes. She joined Ofsted in 2007 as one of His Majesty’s Inspectors. She became the Deputy Director for Early Years in 2012. She was responsible for several of Ofsted’s good practice surveys, such as ‘Teaching and Play, a Balancing Act’, ‘Destined to Disadvantage’ and ‘Bold Beginnings’. In recent years, she was the responsible director for schools and early education. She led on the importance of early reading, as well as leading Ofsted’s curriculum unit of specialist HMI. She retired from Ofsted in 2022 and is delighted to be working with young children and their educators at the end of her career. She was recently awarded an MBE for her services to education.
Hayley Lapworth
Hayley Lapworth’s Bio
Hayley Lapworth employed by Ofsted as a senior officer in early years. I have worked in early years for my whole career and continue to be passionate about making a difference in children’s lives.
Helen Donohoe
Helen Donohoe’s Bio
Helen Donohoe is the Chief Executive for the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY), having previously spent three years as their Policy Advisor. She has over twenty years of experience as a campaigner, researcher, volunteer and writer covering many areas but specialising in children’s education and social policy. She was previously a parent governor of North Islington Nursery School and as Director of Public Policy at Action for Children, she led the team that successfully campaigned to establish emotional child neglect in criminal law. Her written work has ranged from peer-reviewed papers through to blogs for The Huffington Post and New Statesman. She is also the author of the young person’s book World Issues Today: Terrorism and the YA novel Birdy Flynn.
Imogen Edmunds
Imogen Edmunds’ Bio
Imogen Edmunds has worked in human resources management for 30 years and her career has centred around HR Consultancy for the past 19 years. A fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) her and her team of HR Advisors are based in Redditch, Worcestershire where they specialise in supporting Day Nurseries, Pre-schools and Out of School Clubs across England, Scotland and Wales. Imogen is the author of How to Hire Superstars for your Day Nursery and over the last 19 years Imogen has spoken on many stages at events for the Early Years sector. Redwing Solutions was shortlisted for HR Consultancy of the Year in 2020 by Personnel Today Magazine.
Joanne Jones
Joanne Jones’s Bio
Joanne Jones is a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist with more than 20 years’ experience working with Early Years children in the NHS and as the founder of her own preschool.
Worldwide, she now helps thousands of parents online – giving them the knowledge and tools needed to support their child’s speech, language and communication needs.
Famous for her empowering speech therapy programme for late-talking children, ‘Can-Do’, Joanne focuses on what the children can do and gentle ways for them to feel connected and confident so as to grow their communication skills.
A member of The Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists, Joanne has appeared on BBC Radio and ‘The One Show’.
Leslie Patterson
Leslie Patterson’s Bio
Leslie Patterson is an Education Consultant with her own consultancy and works as an Associate for Early Education. Leslie has more than 30 years of teaching experience in Primary, Infant and Nursery Schools. Over 10 years of this was as a Headteacher of a maintained Nursery School which she led from Satisfactory to Outstanding by focusing on improving teaching and learning. Leslie was a National Leader of Education, and her Nursery School became a lead school of a teaching school alliance. This led to wider involvement in professional development, supporting struggling schools and settings, and initial teacher training.
Linda Baston-Pitt
Linda Baston-Pitt’s Bio
Linda is an experienced early years leader, positive psychologist and learning and development consultant. She works with a wide range of organisations in the education and health sectors. She is currently working with NDNA.
Lorna Wigley
Lorna Wigley’s Bio
Passionate about the value of Early Years care and education and the need for quality training for educators of the very young, Lorna Wigley has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of sector leadership roles.
Director of Quality and Training at employee owned Childbase Partnership, Lorna started her career in a nursery before taking on Management roles, becoming a Freelance Inspector and latterly a Local Authority advisor working closely with Early Years providers in developing strong and effective strategies to achieve best practice.
An expert in Ofsted inspection preparation, nursery safeguarding and Special Educational Needs, Lorna currently oversees the quality in 44 award-winning day nurseries at Childbase where the benchmark for safe, nurturing environments is extremely high.
She is also the author of a bespoke curriculum, a range of Childbase parent aid books and is responsible for the training and professional development for over 2,000 employees at the company which tops league tables for quality and parent satisfaction and recommendations.
Lucy Lewin
Lucy Lewin’s Bio
Lucy Lewin has worked in the early years for almost 15 years. She founded her own 85 place day nursery after being a childminder in 2010. Lucy has helped hundreds of settings through her work as a coach and trainer and is on a mission to support the sector to develop a strengths-based strategy for early years education. Lucy has worked with the NDNA, PACEY, and Local Government Association and is currently an Expert with the DfE Covid Recovery Programme.
Melanie Fisher
Melanie Fisher’s Bio
Mel Fisher is an Early Years Advisor at Bright Horizons.
With a background in Education spanning 25+ years, specialising in SEMH and ASD, she is primarily focused on mental health and wellbeing needs in the Early Years.
Her experience parenting an autistic child was her introduction to this field and drives the passion to ensure that all adults, in a caring or parental role, have the knowledge they need to ensure that every child has the best start in life possible, to improve their outcomes as adults.
If she had a motto, it would be “When we know better, we do better!”
Mel is a Thrive Trainer and in her previous role supported schools to develop their wellbeing approach and policies.
Natalie Weir
Natalie Weir’s Bio
Natalie’s background is in community sport, physical activity and health development, most recently as part of the senior management team for a National Governing Body of Sport in the UK. Someone who thrives on developing people, products and programmes, Natalie strongly believes more movement is the magic behind health, happiness and wellbeing.
Currently researching the relationship between physical activity and physical literacy in 3-5 year olds, Natalie has a unique perspective combining evidence and delivery experiences.
Neil Leitch OBE
Neil Leitch’s Bio
Neil Leitch is the chief executive of the Early Years Alliance (formerly known as Pre-school Learning Alliance), the largest early years membership organisation in England and the largest voluntary sector childcare operator in the UK. Before joining the Alliance, Neil held several senior posts within the financial and commercial environment including Chair of the Finance Industry Standards Association.
Neil has played a pivotal role in the development of the Neighbourhood Nurseries programme, co-chaired the Department for Education early education co-production group and successfully lobbied for the maintenance of existing childcare ratios in England.
Neil frequently engages with the Department for Education, early years inspectorate – Ofsted and No.10 advisers. He also represents the Alliance on the All-Party Parliament Group for Childcare and Early Education, and on the Department of International Trade Education Sector Advisory Board, through which the Alliance is charged with representing the early years sector with regard to international development.
Olivia Corbin-Phillip
Olivia Corbin-Phillip’s Bio
Olivia is an early years literacy consultant from West Yorkshire. She specialises in drama pedagogy and storytelling. Olivia empowers early years staff to go beyond books through interactive storytelling and introducing drama into settings that give children the license to lead their learning. She is passionate about bringing drama into the early years to help practitioners love their work and improve learning outcomes.
Paul Moore
Paul Moore’s Bio
Paul has worked internationally in the childcare industry for the past 24 years. In that time, he has held a range of roles including sole charge Nanny, Operations Manager, Childcare Consultant and currently CPD Manager at Busy Bees Education and Training.
Paul is tremendously passionate about understanding and supporting the needs of individual children and their families. In his current role as CPD Manager he creates and facilitates a range of training resources to meet the needs of a diverse client group.
Rebecca Skinner
Rebecca Skinner’s Bio
Rebecca qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 2001 and is the Director of Speech and Language Therapy and author for Thriving Language Community Interest Company. Alongside her work at Thriving Language, Rebecca works as a Speech and Language Therapist for the NHS, specialising in early years and cleft palate. She is passionate about communication and interaction and the role that the adult plays in the development of this. Rebecca believes that being able to communicate is a basic human right and we must respect all ways of communicating.
Ruth Richardson
Ruth Richardson’s Bio
My role as an early years development officer includes the development of in-house and bespoke training packages to expand and deliver the Alliance’s CPD and networking offer. I also work on a variety of early years projects from inspection readiness to the delivery of family learning courses as part of a career development pathway.
I am a big advocate for loose parts play and love seeing how natural learning opportunities occur through creativity and curiosity as children explore and discover the world around them.
Sally Wride
Sally Wride’s Bio
Sally Wride is Senior His Majesty’s Inspector, Early Years in Ofsted’s West Midlands region. She leads the early years inspection and regulatory teams. Sally has worked as an early years inspector, senior inspection manager and senior officer prior to her current role.
Sarah Mackenzie
Sarah Mackenzie’s Bio
Sarah Mackenzie is CEO at Storal, a nursery group where it all starts with the idea that every child, family and team member has a different story to tell. Sarah’s leadership career across nursery groups has focussed on high quality early education, employee engagement, learning and development and business growth. A thought leader in the sector Sarah is a columnist in Nursery World, a member of Ofsted’s Early Education and Curriculum forum and Chair of the South East Ofsted Big Conversation. Having previously won Nursery World and NMT Awards, Sarah was Education Investor Global’s 2021 Woman To Watch and featured in the 2022 Business Women In Education Women To Watch list.
Shelley Smith
Shelley Smith’s Bio
Shelley is the Founder of Sunrise Wellbeing Therapy Centre in Leicester, a qualified Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist and experienced Trainer in Leicestershire. Shelley is also a certified Mental Health First Aider, Youth Mental Health Champion and Emotional Literacy Practitioner. Shelley has worked within a variety of roles supporting children, young people and adults, including working as an Assistant SENDCo within a primary and secondary setting. Shelley is passionate about supporting and counselling individuals with their current and past difficulties through a friendly, non-judgemental, creative approach with a special interest in the field of supporting Trauma, Grief & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Sue Asquith
Sue Asquith’s Bio
Award winning freelance international Early Childhood Consultant and author of Self-Regulation Skills in Young Children. Sue’s experience in the early years sector started in 1998 as a registered childminder, branching out to work in affiliation with her local children centres to mentor new childminders and deliver training. Sue has worked on several DfE funded projects and with local authorities to provide training and support to early years settings. She has her own consultancy business providing quality CPD at affordable prices as well as support visits to help you prepare for your early years inspection. Sue is a regular speaker here at Childcare and Education Expo and for Early Years TV as well as delivering key note speeches at international conferences.
CPD Seminar & Panel Discussion Programme
Friday 22nd September
10.30am – 11:15am: Provocations for Play
Alice Sharp, Early Years Consultant, Author and Trainer
In the first six years of life, the way children learn to play, the resources they play with and the kind of engagement they ‘step’ into will contribute enormously to their development and lay foundations for learning. Environments should provide a place where children have opportunities to explore, learn and develop with the support of sensitive, knowledgeable adults. There should be access to prompts, artefacts and provocations to stimulate ideas and thoughts. This session will explore ideas and solutions, developing critical thinking and creativity from mark making to writing, words to conversations and counting to number bonds!
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
11.30am – 12.15pm: Speech, Language and Communication Needs and the Impact on Emotional Wellbeing
Becky Poulter Jewson, Directors of Early Years, Thriving Language
Rebecca Skinner, Speech and Language Therapist, Thriving Language
Exploring communication and the relationship between this and emotional well-being and health.
What impact can communication difficulties have on a child now and in their future?
The role of the educator in understanding the child’s communication needs.
Using natural learning opportunities to enhance speech and language development.
Kinder Education – what does this really look and feel like and what does it mean for our children now and in the future?
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
12.30pm – 1.30pm: Panel Discussion: Navigating Ofsted – Challenges and Advice
Sarah Mackenzie, CEO, Storal
Helen Donohoe, Chief Executive, Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years
Neil Leitch OBE, Chief Executive, Early Years Alliance
Linda Baston-Pitt, Workforce Specialist, NDNA
Lorna Wigley, Quality & Training Director, Childbase Partnership
Gill Jones MBE, Group Chief Quality Officer & Safeguarding Lead, Busy Bees Nurseries
Join panelists as they address the challenges facing the sector surrounding Ofsted inspections and unite to share advice for practical solutions. This discussion will cover areas including:
• Ofsted inspections – what’s working and what isn’t.
• The role of Ofsted in sector challenges – what role they are playing and could play.
• Navigating Ofsted inspections – advice for managing inspections in the current climate.
• The future of Ofsted inspections – a sector vision for the future.
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
1.45pm – 2.30pm: Embedding a Neuroinclusive Early Years Culture Where ALL Children Can Thrive
Cheryl Warren, Director, Aperion Training
Navigating the world as a neurotypical child, figuring out who you are, the social cues you need to learn, is complex. Your body and brain are processing, categorising, banking the memories and strengthening the neural pathways to be used later. But what if none of this makes sense at all? What if you understand and process the world completely differently to everyone else? How are you supported in your early years to understand, to be accepted for your unique differences and to thrive? We will consider what, why and how of neurodiversity. What is neuroinclusion and neuroaffiming practice? Why do we need to ensure we embed it within our curriculum and our pedagogy? and how do we go about doing that?
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
2.45pm – 3.30pm: Ofsted Early Years Update
Sally Wride, Senior His Majesty’s Inspector, Early Years, West Midlands, Ofsted
Hayley Lapworth, Early Years Senior Officer, Ofsted
Ofsted representatives will share updates in respect of their inspection work. They will also provide curriculum updates and reflect on the ‘Best start in life’ research findings.
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
Saturday 23rd September
10.30am – 11:15am: The Magic of Conversations
Alice Sharp, Early Years Consultant, Author and Trainer
Our Play should engage children in a world where there is lots to discover and be curious about. Where their engagement is deep and full of questions to be asked with not just one answer. The play should be full of moments where the need to talk is bursting from every child.
Our play offer should look to involve children in opportunities that are often suggested and shaped by themselves, sometimes initiated by an adult and at other times shaped by a shared conversation.
This session will focus in on:
• where words begin, in the brain
• how they are shaped by time and exposure to vocabulary
• the importance of multi-sensory stimulation
• offering rich opportunities to use real catalysts, imaginary and contextual situations to promote speaking skills
• fully considering receptive language, expressive language, the use of language and fluency
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
12.30pm – 1.30pm: Panel Discussion: Exploring and Supporting Children’s Speech, Language & Communication
Sue Asquith, Early Childhood Consultant
Emma Pinnock, CEO, Essential Education Group Ltd
Angharad Welch, Owner, Find the Key Speech and Language Therapy
Joanne Jones, Consultant Speech and Language Therapist & Founder of The Home Can-Do
Paul Moore, CPD Manager at Busy Bees Education and Training
Caroline Wright, Director of Early Childhood, Bright Horizons
Join this engaging discussion that will explore insights and strategies to help understand and support speech, language and communication needs for all children across the early years and primary, including those with SEND. The discussion will cover areas including:
• The connection between speech, language and communication and children’s behavior and well-being.
• Social skills – are they a positive or a negative? When should we be delivering social skills and how.
• The importance of sensory-motor skills for communication development.
• Identifying communication needs in children learning English as an Additional Language.
• The potential mismatch between expression and receptivity and how to be aware of this potential difference to support emotions and learning.
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
1.45pm – 2.30pm: Provocations to Encourage Creativity
Leslie Patterson, Education Consultant, Finding the Magic in the Early Years
Creativity is much more than artistic expression; it has a place in all areas of learning and is deeply connected to the Characteristics of Effective Learning. Often creativity is an indicator of strong progress. How we set up our provision and choose to offer resources can make huge difference. This seminar considers how a range of stimuli can act as provocations which encourage children to approach learning imaginatively and creatively.
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
2.45pm – 3.30pm: Recruiting and Retaining Talent in Early Years & Primary
Imogen Edmunds, CEO, Redwing Solutions Ltd
In this seminar we will take the audience through the practical steps that can be taken to address the difficulties in recruiting and retaining talent in the sector. There has been much written about how difficult it is to recruit and retain the childcare workforce. Whilst this remains true, many employers are finding success, so this is a positive seminar taking attendees through what is working for others and might work for them. In the seminar we will cover:
• Giving yourself the best chance to attract talent to your setting
• How to retain the talent you have attracted through employee engagement
Location: Exhibition Hall Seminar Theatre
Free Interactive Workshops Programme
Friday 24th September
10.30am – 11:15am: Let’s MOVE together!
Amanda Frolich, Owner & Director, Amanda’s Action Club
Calling ALL early year’s educators. We are the role models for children, so let’s move together. Come and join this workshop to feel energised whilst learning how to confidently deliver a 30 minute physical development session into your setting. Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
12.30pm – 1:15pm: Benefits of Nature Play for Children
Melanie Fisher, Early Years Advisor & Cheryl Davis, Early Childhood Specialist, Bright Horizons
Research proves that children who regularly play outside tend to be healthier and happier than those who spend their time playing inside.
We know that playing outside supports children to experience taking risks, it encourages independence and the development of social skills. At a time when child obesity is at an all-time high, it enables children to be more physically active and as a bonus, teaches them about the beauty of our natural world.
At Bright Horizons we offer a range of outside activities that include forest schools and nature play. During this session we will consider all the benefits of outdoor play and experience some of the learning opportunities we provide to our children.
Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
2.30pm – 3:15pm: How Fun Language Learning Sets Children on a Path to Success
Anna Neville, CEO & Founder, Kidslingo
Cristina West, Franchisee, Kidslingo
Amy Archer, Franchisee, Kidslingo
Learning a language enhances children’s cultural capital, giving them the best possible start to their early education and supporting their roles as effective global citizens. Early childhood is the most rapid period of development in a human life and the key time to start language learning. Children’s minds are more flexible than adults, allowing for quicker, easier and more efficient language learning.
With 2 short back-to-back French and Spanish sessions this workshop will demonstrate some fun activities and songs that can be used to develop second language skills in young children.
Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
Saturday 25th September
10.30am – 11:15am: The Art of Storytelling
Olivia Corbin-Phillip, Early Years & Literacy Consultant, Stories with Liv
We all have a story to tell, but do we have the confidence to make our voices heard? That’s what we want for the children in our care, to tell their own story far and wide.
Storytelling is a great way to inspire and empower children. This active and fun introduction to storytelling will help anyone working with children bring stories to life with some hands-on tips that you can implement straight away.
Let’s upgrade your story times with fun, interactive drama techniques that will help you move away from the carpet and go beyond the book!
Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
12.30pm – 1:15pm: Super Sounds! A Fantastically Fun Pre-Phonics Journey!
Emma Spiers, Independent Early Learning Consultant, Trainer and Author, The Learning Lady
Super Sounds is an all-singing, all-dancing, pre-phonics workshop that you just can’t miss! This fun-filled, jam-packed workshop includes EVERYTHING you need to prepare your 2, 3 and 4-year-olds for Phonics when they begin school. You’ll learn what comes before phonics and why, by joining in with heaps of easy-peasy hands-on games and super simple activities that your children WILL LOVE. Full of story suggestions, assessment solutions and top tips for sharing with families, you’ll leave this workshop buzzing and ready to get started with pre phonics STRAIGHT AWAY!
Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
2.30pm – 3:15pm: Discovering Loose Parts Play
Ruth Richardson, Early Years Development Officer & Alison Heseltine, Early Years Development Manager, Early Years Alliance
Do you know how playing with loose parts builds on children’s learning? Want to promote curiosity and creativity in young children?
Join us for this interactive workshop where we will:
• Introduce you to the endless possibilities of loose parts play
• Explore the benefits to children’s learning through loose parts in children’s play
• Share tips to help you build your loose parts provision
Location: Exhibition Floor, Workshop Area
Wellbeing Workshops Programme
Friday 22nd September
11.35am – 12:20pm: Creating a Positive, Mindful Environment
Shelly Smith, Integrative Psychotherapist & Trainer, Sunrise Wellbeing Partnership C.I.C.
This session looks at how you can create a positive, safe space for the children in your care. As humans we only thrive when our environment is safe and supportive, this includes offering calming spaces, time to check in with feelings and to develop a holistic approach through understanding sensory breaks and how mindful strategies can support children navigate their day. Included will be an opportunity to reflect on your setting environment and how you can build a holistic ‘hygge’ feeling, providing a comfortable environment for children away from anything emotional overwhelming to calm the nervous system and activate the soothing system.
Location: Exhibition Floor, Wellbeing Workshop Area
1.35pm – 2:20pm: Harnessing Super Powers to Support Children’s Emotional Wellbeing
Alison Knowles, Founder & Creator, Ollie and his Super Powers
This dynamic session equips you with practical strategies to nurture children’s emotional development through storytelling and play. Celebrate children’s unique strengths, explore emotions as Super Powers, and teach self-regulation using superhero-themed techniques. Build resilience and problem-solving skills through imaginative activities, fostering empathy and connection. This workshop empowers you to create a supportive environment where children can understand and manage their emotions while embracing their inner superheroes. Join us and transform your childcare practices!
Location: Exhibition Floor, Wellbeing Workshop Area
Saturday 23rd September
11.35am – 12:20pm: Finding Your Red Thread: From Languish to Love in Early Years Education
Lucy Lewin, Founder, The Profitable Nursery Academy
This interactive workshop is aimed at rekindling the passion in early years educators experiencing languish—a state of stagnation—in their work. The workshop highlights the neuroscience behind work attitudes, reframing failure, and exploring empowering mindsets. At its core, participants identify their ‘Red Thread,’ the aspects of work that bring joy, through a reflective activity using a red ribbon. The workshop concludes with strategies to incorporate this ‘Red Thread’ into daily work, fostering fulfilment and love for their roles, moving them from languish to love.
Location: Exhibition Floor, Wellbeing Workshop Area
1.35pm – 2:20pm: Inspiring More Movement, More Often. Let’s Play!
Natalie Weir, PhD Researcher and Founder of Inspector Play
All children, regardless of their background or circumstances, should be supported to develop positive relationships with movement from the earliest opportunity. Unfortunately, existing physical inequalities have widened since COVID-19, and sedentary behaviours increased. These trends will have significant implications for motor and cognitive development, cardiovascular, bone, and mental health, as well as an increased risk of obesity.
The workshop will explore through a physical literacy lens and how to extend active play to all areas of the early years/KS1/2 curriculum, whilst delving into the opportunities and challenges of incorporating movement at varying intensities. Expect fun practical activity ideas and movement!
Location: Exhibition Floor, Wellbeing Workshop Area
Meet Our Wonderful Speakers
Alice Sharp
Alice Sharp’s Bio
Alice is an award-winning teacher, trainer, author and entrepreneur!
As I look back at those early steps into adult life; first as an undecided Civil Servant, then as a determined teacher and finally that giant whole-hearted step into the world of early childhood, I feel real gratitude that I found my way into this world of infinite possibility.
The driving force behind everything that I have done and continue to do is the overwhelming desire to make a positive difference on the lives of practitioners and the children in their care. What we do matters; every minute of every day!
Alison Heseltine
Alison Heseltine’s Bio
My current role as an early years development manager has provided me with many new and exciting opportunities to develop my passion for giving children the best start in life. My role includes project management, delivering sessions to families, supporting colleagues across our services and the development of training materials for educators.
It is a privilege to have worked with children, families and educators in the early years sector for over 20 years.
Alison Knowles
Alison Knowles’ Bio
Ali Knowles is a successful emotional therapist, author, public speaker, and award-winning NLP trainer. Her unique perspective empowers individuals, including children, to find solutions from within. Originally a cognitive hypnotherapist, Ali’s passion for learning led her to gain expertise in NLP and CBT, creating the Ollie Model – a simple therapeutic approach to emotional control. As demand grew, Ali trained others from diverse backgrounds, including hairdressers, parents, and social workers, establishing the Ollie School in 2018. With her Ollie Coaches, Ali works with schools, adoption agencies, and charities, focusing on children and those with special educational needs. Ali’s core belief is that no children are inherently bad; their environment plays a crucial role. Her dyslexia, once seen as a hindrance, ultimately led her to a fulfilling career path after leaving sales roles in the construction industry.
Amanda Frolich
Amanda Frolich’s Bio
Amanda Frolich is an award-winning children’s activity provider and CEO of Amanda’s Action Club, an innovative physical development concept teaching children how to be active and healthy from an early age. Amanda created Movement Matters with Alison Featherbe, so that together they can bring inspirational movement sessions for children and break down the learning and knowledge that children are gaining from their activities and experiences.
Amy Archer
Amy Archer’s Bio
Amy is a very experienced Kidslingo teacher and has been running a thriving Kidslingo franchise for over 6 years. Alongside her growing team, she runs French and Spanish clubs and classes in early years settings and primary schools across the North Birmingham area.
Angharad Welch
Angharad Welch’s Bio
Angharad Welch is an experienced Speech and Language Therapist who runs her own Therapy business, Find the Key Speech and Language Therapy. She has worked with children in all stages of education, and has extensive experience working with children with complex developmental needs in the Early Years.
Angharad believes that Early Years Practitioners are some of our most skilled educators, and wishes that everyone else could see that too! Great environments and skilled child-led interactions are some of our most powerful tools for supporting early communication. Valuing the child and meeting them where they are is central to inclusive practise. Early Years has these things in spades.
Angharad is based in Herefordshire and works with children, families and settings across the age range.
Anna Neville
Anna Neville’s Bio
Anna Neville is the Founder and CEO of Kidslingo, a leading multi-award-winning kids’ language franchise offering fun French & Spanish classes to over 25,000 young children every week in nurseries, schools, private homes and venues. Anna is a passionate believer in introducing languages to children as young as possible via Kidslingo’s fun teaching methodology that combines songs, games, story-telling, actions and let’s pretend.
Becky Poulter Jewson
Becky Poulter Jewson’s Bio
Becky has over 25 years experience working with children and families as a qualified Early Years Lead and is the Director of Early Years and author for Thriving Language Community Interest Company. She has led and developed teams of successful early years educators within children’s centres and the private sector. Having owned her own nursery and preschool, she has developed free flow provision and language rich learning environments throughout the country. Becky is an early years lead for Forest School, working with families and children. Becky believes that empowering individuals to thrive and helping to create future generations is probably the best career in the world! She is a passionate advocate for early years and supports many further teaching and learning facilities.
Caroline Wright
Caroline Wright’s Bio
Caroline is our Director of Early Childhood and leads Bright Horizons’ Early Childhood team.
Her team is responsible for developing and leading best practice in teaching and learning across all of our nurseries. They are continually making a positive contribution to national policy, representing Bright Horizons in discussions around Early Childhood development in the UK.
Caroline has a strong background in Early Years care and education, including previous experience as Director of Early Years Education for two nursery groups in the UK, and EYFS Manager with a Local Authority. Caroline was an Early Years inspector and RgNI (Registered Nursery Inspector) in Ofsted, and was the East of England lead for Early Years Teacher Training, working closely with universities and The National College of Teaching and Leadership. Prior to joining Bright Horizons, Caroline was a lecturer of Early Childhood Studies on graduate and post graduate programmes at Doncaster University College.
Her former research and publications include a focus on the importance of induction in Early Years to have a positive impact on practice, and how the foundations for a Professional Learning Community improve practice in nurseries across the UK.
Cheryl Davis
Cheryl Davis’ Bio
I am Early Childhood Specialist and have been with Bright Horizons for over 2 years. I have 20 years’ experience in Early Years and have worked in a range of roles from room leader, to manager to Early Years advisor and now my role at Bright Horizons. Loose parts, nature play and outdoors are a particular passion of mine in early years and I have been lucky enough to see forest schools in action in Denmark during my career. I believe providing children with things they can be curious about to provide that awe and wonder especially benefits them outdoors.
Cheryl Warren
Cheryl Bedding’s Bio
Cheryl is currently working with many nurseries and early years settings in a range of ways offering training, SEND qualifications and for some in an ongoing relationship as their SEND consultant. Cheryl shares her passion, commitment and experiences from almost 30 years in the early years sector and as a parent of a neurodivergent child. Cheryl has delivered webinars nationally and internationally, including in India, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Jamaica, and this year has been asked to be a judge at NMT’s prestigious awards evening for the SEND category. Cheryl has spoken previously at both Coventry and London Childcare & Education Expo’s, LEYF strategy conferences, the UK nanny conferences and webinars for Kinderly learn.
Cristina West
Cristina West’s Bio
Cristina is half Spanish has been a Kidslingo franchisee since 2017, successfully running clubs and classes in early years settings and primary schools in the Nuneaton & Hinckley area. Her business has gone from strength to strength winning both local and national awards including Best Business Manager/Activity Leader in the What’s on 4 Kids Awards and The Little Ankle Biters Awards for Best Children’s Activity in Warwickshire.
Emma Pinnock
Emma Pinnock’s Bio
As an educator Emma has had a rich and varied career. She has been a teacher for 14 years, working in a range of environments such as PRU’s, Hospital schools, Special schools and Mainstream education. Emma has also been in a range of senior management roles for 8 years and in her most recent role, as the Head of a specialist provision, focused on the needs and education of children with autism.
Emma’s passion to support SEND has derived from her personal Journey. This has led to her belief in people’s abilities to overcome barriers and difficulties. Emma is solution focused, strategic and has the ability to develop vision for schools, organisations and families. Emma has both personal and professional experience of living with special educational needs which uniquely impacts her ability and insights. She strives to encourage people to see past their comfort zones, to be solution focused despite the difficulties and to stretch themselves past the norm.
Emma Spires
Emma Spires’s Bio
Emma Spiers is The Learning Lady! An author, consultant and former Early Years Ofsted Inspector. With over 25 years experience in the Early Years sector, she works nationally and internationally to provide training and advisory services across academy trusts, local authorities, schools, nursery chains, charities and PVI settings.
Emma is a ‘hands on’ trainer and a pre-phonics expert, inspiring practitioners everywhere through fun and engaging practical workshops. Emma is full of ideas, believing that quality learning can be simple and easy to achieve, without costing the earth.
Emma’s prephonics book ‘Super Sounds’ has a five star Amazon rating, being a Teach Early Years finalist in 2022. She is on a mission to help practitioners and parents understand the essential prephonic development children need to be school ready. Emma set up the popular Learning Lady You Tube channel in 2020 where there’s heaps of free information for everyone working with 2,3 and 4 year olds.
Gill Jones MBE
Gill Jones’ Bio
Gill Jones is currently working for Busy Bees Nurseries, as their international quality lead. Gill started her career over 40 years ago as a teacher in Essex, moving to Wirral following her marriage and shortly after becoming an advisory teacher for music at the start of the National Curriculum. She was promoted to deputy head and later to headteacher of several primary schools. She worked for the National College of School Leadership (NCSL) as a network lead, training headteachers and as an assessor for the NPQH and other leadership programmes. She joined Ofsted in 2007 as one of His Majesty’s Inspectors. She became the Deputy Director for Early Years in 2012. She was responsible for several of Ofsted’s good practice surveys, such as ‘Teaching and Play, a Balancing Act’, ‘Destined to Disadvantage’ and ‘Bold Beginnings’. In recent years, she was the responsible director for schools and early education. She led on the importance of early reading, as well as leading Ofsted’s curriculum unit of specialist HMI. She retired from Ofsted in 2020 and is delighted to be working with young children and their educators at the end of her career. She was recently awarded an MBE for her services to education.
Hayley Lapworth
Hayley Lapworth’s Bio
Hayley Lapworth employed by Ofsted as a senior officer in early years. I have worked in early years for my whole career and continue to be passionate about making a difference in children’s lives.
Helen Donohoe
Helen Donohoe’s Bio
Helen Donohoe is the Chief Executive for the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY), having previously spent three years as their Policy Advisor. She has over twenty years of experience as a campaigner, researcher, volunteer and writer covering many areas but specialising in children’s education and social policy. She was previously a parent governor of North Islington Nursery School and as Director of Public Policy at Action for Children, she led the team that successfully campaigned to establish emotional child neglect in criminal law. Her written work has ranged from peer-reviewed papers through to blogs for The Huffington Post and New Statesman. She is also the author of the young person’s book World Issues Today: Terrorism and the YA novel Birdy Flynn.
Imogen Edmunds
Imogen Edmunds’ Bio
Imogen Edmunds has worked in human resources management for 30 years and her career has centred around HR Consultancy for the past 19 years. A fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) her and her team of HR Advisors are based in Redditch, Worcestershire where they specialise in supporting Day Nurseries, Pre-schools and Out of School Clubs across England, Scotland and Wales. Imogen is the author of How to Hire Superstars for your Day Nursery and over the last 19 years Imogen has spoken on many stages at events for the Early Years sector. Redwing Solutions was shortlisted for HR Consultancy of the Year in 2020 by Personnel Today Magazine.
Natalie Weir
Natalie Weir’s Bio
Natalie’s background is in community sport, physical activity and health development, most recently as part of the senior management team for a National Governing Body of Sport in the UK. Someone who thrives on developing people, products and programmes, Natalie strongly believes more movement is the magic behind health, happiness and wellbeing.
Currently researching the relationship between physical activity and physical literacy in 3-5 year olds, Natalie has a unique perspective combining evidence and delivery experiences.
Joanne Jones
Joanne Jones’s Bio
Joanne Jones is a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist with more than 20 years’ experience working with Early Years children in the NHS and as the founder of her own preschool.
Worldwide, she now helps thousands of parents online – giving them the knowledge and tools needed to support their child’s speech, language and communication needs.
Famous for her empowering speech therapy programme for late-talking children, ‘Can-Do’, Joanne focuses on what the children can do and gentle ways for them to feel connected and confident so as to grow their communication skills.
A member of The Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists, Joanne has appeared on BBC Radio and ‘The One Show’.
Leslie Patterson
Leslie Patterson’s Bio
Leslie Patterson is an Education Consultant with her own consultancy and works as an Associate for Early Education. Leslie has more than 30 years of teaching experience in Primary, Infant and Nursery Schools. Over 10 years of this was as a Headteacher of a maintained Nursery School which she led from Satisfactory to Outstanding by focusing on improving teaching and learning. Leslie was a National Leader of Education, and her Nursery School became a lead school of a teaching school alliance. This led to wider involvement in professional development, supporting struggling schools and settings, and initial teacher training.
Linda Baston-Pitt
Linda Baston-Pitt’s Bio
Linda is an experienced early years leader, positive psychologist and learning and development consultant. She works with a wide range of organisations in the education and health sectors. She is currently working with NDNA.
Lorna Wigley
Lorna Wigley’s Bio
Passionate about the value of Early Years care and education and the need for quality training for educators of the very young, Lorna Wigley has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of sector leadership roles.
Director of Quality and Training at employee owned Childbase Partnership, Lorna started her career in a nursery before taking on Management roles, becoming a Freelance Inspector and latterly a Local Authority advisor working closely with Early Years providers in developing strong and effective strategies to achieve best practice.
An expert in Ofsted inspection preparation, nursery safeguarding and Special Educational Needs, Lorna currently oversees the quality in 44 award-winning day nurseries at Childbase where the benchmark for safe, nurturing environments is extremely high.
She is also the author of a bespoke curriculum, a range of Childbase parent aid books and is responsible for the training and professional development for over 2,000 employees at the company which tops league tables for quality and parent satisfaction and recommendations.
Lucy Lewin
Lucy Lewin’s Bio
Lucy Lewin has worked in the early years for almost 15 years. She founded her own 85 place day nursery after being a childminder in 2010. Lucy has helped hundreds of settings through her work as a coach and trainer and is on a mission to support the sector to develop a strengths-based strategy for early years education. Lucy has worked with the NDNA, PACEY, and Local Government Association and is currently an Expert with the DfE Covid Recovery Programme.
Melanie Fisher
Melanie Fisher’s Bio
Mel Fisher is an Early Years Advisor at Bright Horizons.
With a background in Education spanning 25+ years, specialising in SEMH and ASD, she is primarily focused on mental health and wellbeing needs in the Early Years.
Her experience parenting an autistic child was her introduction to this field and drives the passion to ensure that all adults, in a caring or parental role, have the knowledge they need to ensure that every child has the best start in life possible, to improve their outcomes as adults.
If she had a motto, it would be “When we know better, we do better!”
Mel is a Thrive Trainer and in her previous role supported schools to develop their wellbeing approach and policies.
Neil Leitch OBE
Neil Leitch’s Bio
Neil Leitch is the chief executive of the Early Years Alliance (formerly known as Pre-school Learning Alliance), the largest early years membership organisation in England and the largest voluntary sector childcare operator in the UK. Before joining the Alliance, Neil held several senior posts within the financial and commercial environment including Chair of the Finance Industry Standards Association.
Neil has played a pivotal role in the development of the Neighbourhood Nurseries programme, co-chaired the Department for Education early education co-production group and successfully lobbied for the maintenance of existing childcare ratios in England.
Neil frequently engages with the Department for Education, early years inspectorate – Ofsted and No.10 advisers. He also represents the Alliance on the All-Party Parliament Group for Childcare and Early Education, and on the Department of International Trade Education Sector Advisory Board, through which the Alliance is charged with representing the early years sector with regard to international development.
Olivia Corbin-Phillip
Olivia Corbin-Phillip’s Bio
Olivia is an early years literacy consultant from West Yorkshire. She specialises in drama pedagogy and storytelling. Olivia empowers early years staff to go beyond books through interactive storytelling and introducing drama into settings that give children the license to lead their learning. She is passionate about bringing drama into the early years to help practitioners love their work and improve learning outcomes.
Paul Moore
Paul Moore’s Bio
Paul has worked internationally in the childcare industry for the past 24 years. In that time, he has held a range of roles including sole charge Nanny, Operations Manager, Childcare Consultant and currently CPD Manager at Busy Bees Education and Training.
Paul is tremendously passionate about understanding and supporting the needs of individual children and their families. In his current role as CPD Manager he creates and facilitates a range of training resources to meet the needs of a diverse client group.
Rebecca Skinner
Rebecca Skinner’s Bio
Rebecca qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 2001 and is the Director of Speech and Language Therapy and author for Thriving Language Community Interest Company. Alongside her work at Thriving Language, Rebecca works as a Speech and Language Therapist for the NHS, specialising in early years and cleft palate. She is passionate about communication and interaction and the role that the adult plays in the development of this. Rebecca believes that being able to communicate is a basic human right and we must respect all ways of communicating.
Ruth Richardson
Ruth Richardson’s Bio
My role as an early years development officer includes the development of in-house and bespoke training packages to expand and deliver the Alliance’s CPD and networking offer. I also work on a variety of early years projects from inspection readiness to the delivery of family learning courses as part of a career development pathway.
I am a big advocate for loose parts play and love seeing how natural learning opportunities occur through creativity and curiosity as children explore and discover the world around them.
Sally Wride
Sally Wride
Sally Wride is Senior His Majesty’s Inspector, Early Years in Ofsted’s West Midlands region. She leads the early years inspection and regulatory teams. Sally has worked as an early years inspector, senior inspection manager and senior officer prior to her current role.
Sarah Mackenzie
Sarah Mackenzie’s Bio
Sarah Mackenzie is CEO at Storal, a nursery group where it all starts with the idea that every child, family and team member has a different story to tell. Sarah’s leadership career across nursery groups has focussed on high quality early education, employee engagement, learning and development and business growth. A thought leader in the sector Sarah is a columnist in Nursery World, a member of Ofsted’s Early Education and Curriculum forum and Chair of the South East Ofsted Big Conversation. Having previously won Nursery World and NMT Awards, Sarah was Education Investor Global’s 2021 Woman To Watch and featured in the 2022 Business Women In Education Women To Watch list.
Shelley Smith
Shelley Smith’s Bio
Shelley is the Founder of Sunrise Wellbeing Therapy Centre in Leicester, a qualified Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist and experienced Trainer in Leicestershire. Shelley is also a certified Mental Health First Aider, Youth Mental Health Champion and Emotional Literacy Practitioner. Shelley has worked within a variety of roles supporting children, young people and adults, including working as an Assistant SENDCo within a primary and secondary setting. Shelley is passionate about supporting and counselling individuals with their current and past difficulties through a friendly, non-judgemental, creative approach with a special interest in the field of supporting Trauma, Grief & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Sue Asquith
Sue Asquith’s Bio
Award winning freelance international Early Childhood Consultant and author of Self-Regulation Skills in Young Children. Sue’s experience in the early years sector started in 1998 as a registered childminder, branching out to work in affiliation with her local children centres to mentor new childminders and deliver training. Sue has worked on several DfE funded projects and with local authorities to provide training and support to early years settings. She has her own consultancy business providing quality CPD at affordable prices as well as support visits to help you prepare for your early years inspection. Sue is a regular speaker here at Childcare and Education Expo and for Early Years TV as well as delivering key note speeches at international conferences.