The Voice Of Early Childhood
Conference
2024

16th March 

Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Campus, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS

‘What an amazing event! So many incredible, speakers, I have learnt so much and been inspired to be the best early years advocate I can be and part of a wider early years community and movement. I really enjoyed the whole day, the food was excellent and the sense of community was great!'
Alexandra LeighChildminder, Leeds
‘My biggest takeaway from the conference was sharing a space with likeminded people, revalidating my passion and purpose. It’s always amazing to be part of a shared space advocating for early childhood’.
Roz SmithLeader, Holly Grange Montessori Nursery, Sandbach
‘I found it really inspiring and encouraging. I loved the fun with the more serious but all equally important topics. I liked how the groups were split for more suitable CPD. Everyone was really friendly. Refreshments and food were great!’.
Hayley HallidayLearning Support Assistant, Bottesford CofE Primary, Nottingham
‘2nd time I have been to the conference and would definitely come again’.
Bethany Rose McCrackenLeader, Holly Grange Montessori Nursery, Sandbach
‘Thank you so much to TVOEC for a fantastic day full of insightful, powerful and advocating information, discussion and debate. Just wonderful, I can’t wait to attend again! I learnt so much about play and the human brain. I can’t wait to share what I’ve learnt with the rest of my team!’
Enya LastOwner, Enya’s Childcare, Peterborough
‘Lots of great information about the power of play, child development, physical development and ideas for us to take away as a setting’.
Stacey SadeeqChildminder, Little Trees Childcare, Leeds
‘My biggest takeaway was that advocacy, activism and community is not only powerful but necessary. It is high times we linked arms and marched for our children and the future of the world’.
Marlis Jurging-ColesSetting Manager and Early Years Director, Linden Learning
‘A 5 star 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟 review, inspired and thought provoking. I could have listened to Stella and Ben all day!’
Fay Albans-RossCourse Leader, Nottingham Trent University
‘Ben Kingston-Hughes was the single most inspiring speaker I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to! He connected to my personal experiences in such a profound way I have never felt so inspired before so thank you!! I also enjoyed the process of being able to listen to so many brilliant talks that from their title I didn’t think would be as good as they were!’.
Hannah MeltonEarly Years Practitioner, Enya’s Childcare, Peterborough
‘Fantastic conference and opportunity to hear and speak with likeminded people’.
Michelle SmithManager, Holly Grange Montessori Nursery, Sandbach
‘Thank you for an excellent day! I could have listened to the speakers for longer! I loved all of the opportunities for networking. Refreshments and the venue were great too’.
Anna PortmanEarly Years Teacher, Derbyshire
‘Such a great balance of Key Note speakers - all offering different insights and ways of presenting’.
Charlie Parker-FoxForest School Leader, Enya’s Childcare
‘My favourite parts of the conference were meeting Angelica and being inspired by her passion and drive, listening to Dr Nathan Archer about advocacy and how we can help improve early years for all children and families. I loved hearing Adam Marycz and got lots of insight on how to generate reform with Ofsted and the Big Listen. Ben Kingston-Hughes was amazing and I loved hearing about his incredible work with adopted children and the most vulnerable in society, would love to hear more from him in the future’.
Alexandra LeighChildminder, Leeds
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Check out our conference highlights

More conference highlights coming soon!

A huge thank you to our fantastic
conference speakers

Picture of Dr Nathan Archer

Dr Nathan Archer

Researcher at Leeds Becket University

Advocacy and activism in early childhood

Picture of Adam Marycz

Adam Marycz

Early Years Teacher, Setting Manager, Writer and Editor

Leading your team through Ofsted inspections

Picture of Dr Stella Louis

Dr Stella Louis

Early Years Consultant, Trainer and Author 

School readiness and intellectual readiness:
A question of balance

Picture of Ben Kingston-Hughes

Ben Kingston-Hughes

Speaker, Trainer, Author

The power of play

Picture of Dr Sue Aliingham

Dr Sue Aliingham

Independent consultant, author and trainer

Dr Sue’s Surgery: 1:1 Q+A sessions with Dr Sue

Picture of Ruth Swailes

Ruth Swailes

Early years advisor and curriculum developer

How do we construct our own curriculum?

Picture of Helen Battelley

Helen Battelley

Education Consultant and Lecturer

The foundations of early writing

Picture of Dr Valerie Daniel

Dr Valerie Daniel

Executive Headteacher of two nursery schools

Leadership and agency through creative pedagogies

What is The Voice Of Early Childhood Conference?

The Voice of Early Childhood Conference brings you high quality CPD through shared reflection, discussion and debate all in person.

Be prepared to hear from influential names in the sector, as well as take part in active reflection, discussion and debate.

Why should you attend our early years conference?

  • To hear about latest thinking around children’s development and learning
  • To hear from pioneering and well respected early childhood specialists
  • To take part in active reflection, discussion and debate
  • To network with other educators, leaders and settings
  • To gain insight from our partners on the latest resources and business solutions

Who should attend the conference?

  • Early childhood leaders, managers and owners interested in supporting their teams with up to date child development knowledge and ensuring their settings are research and theory informed.
  • Practitioners, childminders, nannies and students interested in children’s development and embedding research and theory into practice.

Key conference themes

  • Active advocacy, activism and change
  • Agency and voice
  • School readiness
  • Constructing an early years curriculum
  • Leading your team through Ofsted inspections
  • The power of play
  • The foundations of early writing
  • Embedding sustainability into everything we do
CPD and Advocacy

The aim of this conference is to, not only provide an opportunity for high quality continuous professional development, but importantly to provide a safe space for inquisitive dialogue and shared reflection.

Come prepared not only to learn, but most importantly to reflect, ask questions, discuss and debate!

A big thank you to our
conference partners

Learniture
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Take a look back at our 2023 conference...

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Professional development is something every early childhood setting invests in, yet it does not always lead to meaningful or lasting change. Training sessions may be delivered, feedback forms may be completed, and educators may leave feeling inspired. But the more important question is what happens afterwards: does practice change in ways that benefit children? In this live podcast conversation and article, Dr Julian Grenier CBE reflects on what effective continuing professional development, or CPD, can look like in early childhood contexts. A central message is that high-quality professional development is not defined by a single event, but by how learning is sustained, supported and embedded over time
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This article and podcast episode explore how the early years pupil premium (EYPP) can be used to strengthen practice and promote greater equity across the early childhood community. Drawing on research and professional experience, they reflect on why relationships with families matter, what evidence tells us about effective use of funding, and how a focus on high-quality provision can benefit all children—particularly those facing disadvantage. They also consider the importance of professional judgement, teamwork and sustained approaches to improvement in creating meaningful and lasting impact.
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East Midlands Conference Centre, Beeston Ln, Nottingham, NG7 2RJ