The Voice of Early Childhood early years conference 2026 officially kicks off with refreshments and networking to warm up for the day
How do we present ourselves as a sector?
The session will explore how we view childhood from a range of perspectives and how this drives our engagement with and presentation of the narrative of ECE. Given the need to ensure that the role of ECE is fully understood and respected it is imperative that we consider how childhood, and the profession, is represented.
Matt Bawler - In (Re)search of children’s mental health: What can we do? - Banqueting suite
Or
Joanne Lo - It starts with us: Looking inwards as educational leaders - Banqueting suite
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Nicola Arkinstall - From funding to flourishing- unlocking the power of EYPP - Workshop room
Or
Jan Dubiel - A personal pedagogy for empowerment - Workshop room
Cheryl Warren - Creating a neurodiversity affirming pedagogy within the early years space - Banqueting suite
Or
Tamsin Grimmer - Becoming a behaviour detective - Workshop room
Or
Jenny Weidner - How well is your default leadership style serving you? There is another way! - Banqueting suite
Or
Dr Sue Allingham - The curious mind: Children as co-researchers - Workshop room
Lorraine Kara - Inclusive leadership in practice:
Building belonging in early years - Banqueting suite
Or
Dr Kay Aaronricks - Room at the table: Creating time and space for food in early years practice - Workshop room
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Stephanie Hammond - Sing a song of pre phonics - Banqueting suite
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Harry Mills - Building strong early years brands for the 21st century and beyond - Workshop room
Mandy Richardson - Creating a nature based curriculum - Workshop room
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Olivia Corbin-Phillip - Books: what, when & where? - Banqueting suite
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Lucy Lewin - Winning with Gen Z: The future of the early years workforce - Banqueting suite
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Wendy Ratcliff (Ofsted) - Getting it right from the start: How early years practitioners work with babies and toddlers - Workshop room
Calling all leaders, managers, owners, educators, academics, students, parents…the Voice of Early Childhood early years conference 2026 is back! This event is for learning, networking, collaborating and extending your professional social circle. Come along to learn the latest research and best practice in early childhood, from leading your teams and managing a successful setting to child development insight and inspiring practice from other settings.
Our 2026 conference speaker lineup
Head of early years & wellbeing
In (Re)search of children’s mental health: What can we do?
A teacher of over 20 years, Matt’s biggest passion is supporting young children to develop strong foundations in positive mental health. This is not just to equip children with the tools to cope when life’s challenges come but to empower them with the skills to thrive well beyond that. Matt is also author of ‘The Courage Club’ series with Bloomsbury.
Trainer & consultant
Creating a neurodiversity affirming pedagogy within the early years space
Cheryl is the director of Aperion Training, an award-winning trainer, consultant, and published author specialising in neuroinclusion in the early years. She sees differences, not deficits, and empowers educators with knowledge, confidence, and skills to create neurodiversity-affirming environments where children and families can thrive.
Independent consultant , author & trainer
Books: what, when & where?
Liv is a storyteller and consultant specialising in early years literacy. Liv specialises in interactive and responsive storytelling that put children at the centre of the adventure. She is interested in how stories find themselves in all areas of our lives, and in particular how they present in the play and oracy of young children.
Storyteller & producer
It takes a village
Laura Henry-Allain MBE is an award-winning international storyteller, educationalist, producer and consultant. She is the creator of the well-loved, award-winning first Black British Animation, JoJo and Gran Gran global series, developed and produced by CBeebies, and is the series producer. Her bestselling children's books include My Skin, Your Skin and My Family, Your Family, and Maya and Marley.
Early years manager
Inclusive leadership in practice:
Building belonging in early years
Lorraine Kara is an experienced early years leader with over 20 years in education and a BA Honours in Education & Leadership. Passionate about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), she designs curricula, trains leaders, and creates resources that centre representation and belonging. Lorraine empowers educators to lead inclusively and build environments where every child and adult feels seen and valued.
Early years adviser & consultant
A personal pedagogy for empowerment
Jan Dubiel is an independent consultant and was recently identified by the TES as one of the 10 most influential people in British education. Initially a YN / YR / Y1 teacher and leader, he has worked in various strategic roles within national and international ECE. Jan has written widely on different aspects of early years pedagogy and practice.
Founder & CEO, The Nursery Toolbox
Winning with Gen Z: The future of the early years workforce
Lucy Lewin is an early childhood leader, entrepreneur, and certified Gallup strengths coach with nearly two decades of experience. Founder of the Profitable Nursery Academy and owner of Little Angels Nursery, she empowers early years leaders to build sustainable, thriving businesses. A keynote speaker nationally and internationally, Lucy blends strategy, passion, and lived experience to inspire transformation.
Director, B-Intentional Ltd
How well is your default leadership style serving you? There is another way!
Jenny Weidner is a leadership strategist, keynote speaker and author, specialising in early years and primary education. With over 20 years experience as an advanced skills teacher, deputy headteacher and nursery director, she now supports leaders to move from accidental to intentional leadership. Her work with Routledge explores how coaching builds resilience, agency, and capacity across education settings.
Education consultant
It starts with us: Looking inwards as educational leaders
Joanne is an education consultant with 20 years of experience teaching, including former head teacher of Dania School. With a background in Montessori, positive psychology, and educational leadership, she focuses on building emotionally resilient communities as the director of JL Education Ltd and co-founder of Our Mindful Connection Club.
Director of brand development, Cherubs Nurseries
Building strong early years brands for the 21st century and beyond
Harry joined Cherubs Nurseries in 2012 and went on to graduate from Bournemouth University in 2018 with a BA (Hons) in International Hospitality Management. He also holds a Level 3 qualification in Early Years. With a strong foundation in both education and customer experience, Harry is passionate about creating long-lasting and sustainable businesses, harnessing branding as a key component to this.
Independent consultant, author and trainer
The curious mind: Children as co-researchers
As an Independent Consultant, Author and Trainer, Sue is known for her practical style of working through coaching, mentoring, modelling, training and working alongside. As Consultant Editor of EYE (Early Years Educator) her writing is familiar to many and she has written two books that support practice across the Early Years and into Key Stage One – Transitions in the Early Years and Emotional Literacy in the Early Years, both published by Practical Pre-School Books.
Early years consultant
Becoming a behaviour detective
Tamsin Grimmer has a wealth of experience supporting early years educators. She is passionate about young children’s learning and believes that all children deserve educators who are inspiring, dynamic, reflective and loving. Tamsin has written several books aimed at educators and is a true advocate for adopting a loving pedagogy.
Director, Institute for the Science of Early Years, East London
Brainstorms: the neuroscience of learning, tantrums and modern childhood
Professor Sam Wass is a child psychologist and neuroscientist who studied at Oxford, London, and Cambridge. He leads the Institute for the Science of Early Years in East London. Sam has published over 100 academic articles and a book. He frequently appears in the media as an expert in child development & he was an on-screen scientist in Channel 4’s award-winning The Secret Life of 4- and 5-Year-Olds.
Managing director, Naturally Learning Ltd
Creating a nature based curriculum
Mandy is founder and managing director of Naturally Learning, a group of seven nurseries and forest schools across Cornwall. Mandy leads with a strong ethos rooted in brain development research, and a deep understanding of how children learn. By blending g theory with years of hands on practice, Mandy is dedicated to supporting children and their families through meaningful, nature rich experiences that foster curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.
Head of the school of education, Anglia Ruskin University
Room at the table: Creating time and space for food in early years practice
Dr Kay Aaronricks is head of the school of education, at Anglia Ruskin University, specialising in early years education. Kay leads the Nourishing Our Future research project, which explores food, nutrition and health in the early years. In partnership with Essex County Council, she works with early years settings to co-create communities of practice and influence policy and systems, ensuring practitioner's voices shape healthier futures for children and families.
Teaching & learning consultant
Sing a song of pre phonics
Steph brings 25 years of experience in education and is a teaching and learning consultant, DfE literacy specialist, NPQLL facilitator, and school experience tutor at the University of Greenwich. Throughout her career, Steph has specialised in supporting practitioners through team teaching, mentoring, coaching, and professional development training. She maintains a strong professional interest in early language, reading, and writing.
Principal officer, early education, Ofsted
Getting it right from the start: How early years practitioners work with babies and toddlers
Wendy Ratcliff is one of His Majesty’s inspectors and principal officer for early education policy at Ofsted. Originally qualified as an early years practitioner, Wendy has extensive experience of inspection and regulation across a full range of early years provisions, including schools. Her role as principal officer for early education is focused on Ofsted’s ‘Best start in life’ strategic priority and the inspection of early education curriculum, including through the education inspection framework (EIF) and any changes for the future.
Deputy director - early years regulatory policy and practice, Ofsted.
Getting it right from the start: How early years practitioners work with babies and toddlers
Jayne is currently deputy director for early years regulatory policy and practice. She has worked for Ofsted for 16 years, both as an inspector and senior manager. Before joining Ofsted, Jayne worked in local authority, leading on the development of a variety of early years initiatives, including the Sure Start program.
Head teacher of Fulbrook Maintained Nursery School in Walsall and a lead practitioner for Thrive Together Stronger Practice Hub
From funding to flourishing: Unlocking the power of EYPP
Andrina is an experienced early years specialist with over 21 years in the profession. She is head teacher of a maintained nursery school and lead practitioner for the Stronger Practice Hub. Her work focuses on evidence-informed practice, leadership development, and supporting children’s communication, self-regulation, and emotional wellbeing.
Early years lead at Fairfield Spencer Academy, Nottingham
From funding to flourishing: Unlocking the power of EYPP
Nichola is an early years lead and SENCO in Nottinghamshire, with experience across diverse settings. She specialises in inclusive practice, curriculum leadership, and evidence-informed strategies. As an evidence advocate for Derby Research School, she supports practitioners to embed research into practice, with a strong focus on language, executive function, and quality interactions.
Plan your day
Laura Henry-Allain MBE:
It takes a village
2026 is designated as the National Year of Reading. Laura will speak about the importance of books and how they lay the foundations for a child’s lifelong learning.
Laura will also talk about how we must include parents in supporting teaching and learning at home by sharing books, which can have a profound impact on family learning.
You will also have the opportunity to purchase Laura’s bestselling books, which she will personally sign for you.
Select one of the below talks during booking
Join author, educator and inclusion advocate Sukhy Kaur for a lively, interactive session exploring hats and headwear from around the world.
Through storytelling, sensory books, puppetry, audience participation and practical demonstrations, delegates will discover how to spark conversations about culture, identity, neurodiversity and belonging.
Expect plenty of energy, laughter and learning as Sukhy brings her characters to life in a workshop that delegates won't be able to take their eyes off.
Inclusion shouldn’t stop at the staffroom door. This session explores how to support neurodivergent educators by shifting from a deficit mindset to purposeful environmental design. Discover how valuing their unique strengths and preventing masking protects your staff, ensures adult co-regulation, and improves the classroom for everyone.
This session explores how adults can support children’s movement development by balancing guidance with playful exploration. Participants consider when to step in, when to step back, and how to create environments that nurture confident, capable movers across early childhood settings.
Select one of the below talks during booking
This session explores the powerful role of storytelling and characters in supporting young children’s learning, thinking, and emotional development. Drawing on research from learning sciences and classroom practice, it highlights how puppets and other “others” can help children engage with ideas, build empathy, and approach challenges such as early maths with greater confidence. Through practical demonstrations and real classroom examples, the session offers playful, research-informed strategies that practitioners can apply immediately in early years settings.
Young children’s brains struggle more than adults to distinguish speech from background noise. Conor’s research uses wearable tech to test two noise-reduction strategies and their effects on language development. He will discuss what the research reveals about children’s responses to noise and methods to reduce its negative effects.
Select one of the below talks during booking
From Concern to Action: Strengthening Safeguarding Cultures in Early Childhood explores how early years practitioners can build safe, child-centred environments where concerns are recognised and acted upon confidently. Through practical strategies, case examples, and reflective discussion, participants will strengthen professional curiosity, early intervention, and everyday safeguarding practice to create a culture where every child feels safe, heard, and protected.
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Early years practitioners are uniquely placed to recognise emerging needs and make a lasting difference to children's developmental outcomes. This engaging and thought-provoking seminar explores the critical role of early identification of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), helping practitioners to recognise indicators of need and respond with confidence.
Drawing on current research in child development, neuroscience and SEND practice, the session will challenge traditional views of behaviour as simply communication, instead exploring behaviour through the lens of regulation. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of how children's sensory, emotional and neurological experiences influence their actions and interactions.
Select one of the below talks during booking
The Cornish Curriculum offers an early years experience with the magic of childhood at its heart. Our approach makes meaningful memories, connects with nature, and facilitates learning skills for life. Discover how our ambitious curriculum is designed to give children, particularly the most disadvantaged, the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life.
A deep dive into the books on our shelves (and those that should be) and how they support a literacy-rich provision, while also reflecting on the books that don’t work for us and how they can hold us back. Books have roles – there’s a time and place where each storybook will thrive. In this session, we’ll share the formula for working that out. We’ll also touch on rotation rules, outdoor stories, and money-savvy ways to expand your nursery library.
Attracting and retaining Gen Z in early years is one of today’s biggest challenges. In this session, Lucy Lewin explores how her 5 P’s—Preparation, Planning, People, Profit, and Professional Development—offer a fresh, practical framework for building teams Gen Z want to join and stay with. Insightful, actionable, and inspiring.
Jayne Coward and Wendy Ratcliff look at the recent research Ofsted’s team carried out into how nurseries and childminders are making the most of curriculum and teaching to embed those vital early skills in language, motor skills, independence and more. Come and find out more about what we discovered in this vital area of working with the youngest children.
Professor Sam Wass:
Brainstorms: the neuroscience of learning, tantrums and modern childhood
In this session we discuss the latest neuroscience of how brains develop, and how changing modern childhood is affecting children. We discuss the evidence for why young brains learn best in environments which are slow-paced, highly predictable, and not overwhelming, and how the modern world increasingly provides environments which are fast-paced and unpredictable. We discuss how these changes are affecting children and how we can adapt early childhood environments to compensate.
Early years conference 2026 FAQ's
The Voice of Early Childhood Conference is a space for leaders, educators and parents to learn, network, reflect & share voices.
Be prepared to hear from a diverse range of speakers, including leaders in early childhood, educators, academics, researchers and child development specialists.
You will have the chance to actively take part throughout the conference through discussions, networking, shared reflection and workshop activities.
- To hear about latest thinking, research and best practice around children's development and learning
- To hear from pioneering and well respected early childhood specialists and researchers, experienced educators and influential leaders
- To take part in shared reflection, discussion and building a wider early childhood community
- To network with educators, leaders, parents, academics, researchers and students
- To gain insight from our exhibitors on the latest resources and business solutions
- Early childhood leaders, managers and owners interested in supporting and upskilling their teams, developing their leadership and ensuring they are delivering the best provision they can.
- Educators, childminders, nannies and students looking to upskill themselves, gain up to date child development knowledge and ensure their work is research and theory informed.
- Academics, researchers, consultants and policy makers who are interested in the field of early childhood and gaining insight into current practice and latest research developments.
- Parents, carers and family members interested in children's development and embedding research and theory into supporting the children in their care.
- Understanding neurodiversity
- Intentional recruitment, meaningful retention
- Children’s mental health & wellbeing
- Leading your team successfully
- The powerful role of books
- Managing your early years provision
- Supporting the development of babies
- Engage in conversations with Ofsted
- Take part in discussions & debates
- Network, connect & collaborate
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, shared reflection and building a wider early childhood community across settings, academia, policy and family contexts.
Come prepared not only to learn, but most importantly to reflect, ask questions, network, discuss and debate!
Yes there is free parking on site for all conference delegates.
A hot and cold buffet will be provided for all delegates as well as tea, coffees and snacks throughout the day.
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