The Workshops

Workshops focused on business, wellbeing, and sector leadership.

Workshop 1: Famly Live Podcast discussing outdoor learning in context.

⏰ 10.55AM - 11.40AM

Host: Julia Rose who is joined by Tom Richardson and Karl Fice-Thomson
Join them as they discuss what is outdoor education and how anyone can offer it wherever they are based.

Workshop 2: Moving the Box

⏰ 11.45AM - 12.30PM

Speaker: Jan Dubiel
Learn about ‘Moving the Box’ as an approach to ensuring vulnerable children are supported to reach a good level of GLD.

Workshop 3: The Cornish Language Project

⏰ 1.30PM - 2.15PM

Speaker: Will Coleman
Discover a different approach to embedding local languages in to your day to day practice.

Workshop 4: Stronger together: building inclusive partnerships with every family

⏰ 12.20PM - 3.05PM

Speaker: Jay Sparkle
Inclusion goes beyond the classroom; it’s about building genuine partnerships with all families. This interactive workshop explores strategies for communicating with diverse families and engaging them in meaningful ways. Participants will learn how to develop inclusive policies, foster collaboration, and overcome barriers so that every child’s home life is valued and celebrated in the setting.

Learning Outcomes:

• Use inclusive communication strategies that reflect all family structures.

• Build stronger, trusting relationships with diverse families.

• Embed family perspectives into policy, planning, and daily practice.

Inspiration for truly inclusive practice

Workshop 1: Understanding Adversity, Attachment and Brain Development

⏰ 10.55AM - 11.40AM

Speaker: Kerry Davison
This workshop explores how inequality, adversity and early relationships influence children's emotional, social and cognitive development. Participants will gain an understanding of attachment theory, the impact of stress on the developing brain, and why behaviour is best understood as communication. The session will consider how secure relationships can promote resilience and support children's learning and wellbeing.

Key themes:

  * Inequality, adversity and resilience

  * Attachment and secure relationships

  * Brain development and the impact of stress

  * Understanding behaviour through a trauma-informed lens

Workshop 2: Applying Trauma-Informed Practice Using PACE

⏰ 11.45AM - 12.30PM

Speaker: Sarah Mundy
Building on the theoretical foundations of Kerry's session, this practical workshop focuses on how early years professionals can create emotionally safe learning environments and respond effectively to children experiencing distress. Participants will be introduced to the PACE model (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) and explore how it can be used to strengthen relationships, support emotional regulation and respond to behaviour with confidence and compassion.

Key themes:

  * Trauma-informed practice in early years settings

  * The PACE model in everyday interactions

  * Supporting emotional regulation through relationships

  * Practical strategies and case-based discussions for educational settings

Workshop 3: Circle of Friendship

⏰ 1.30PM - 2.15PM

Speaker: Marie Richardson
Explore practical, playful ways to reach the child who can sometimes remain at the edge of the group, helping them to feel safe, connected, valued and able to participate. Through sensory play, stories, creativity and shared experiences, discover how to support emotional wellbeing, communication, executive functioning and a genuine sense of belonging.

Workshop 4: How to build resilience

⏰ 1.30PM - 2.15PM

Speaker: Ruth Coleman Join Ruth as she unpicks how to identify and support resilience in children.

Insights and practical tools to elevate your practice to engage invisible children.

Workshop 1: Attachment to Place

⏰ 10.55AM -11.40AM

Speaker: Mandy Richardson
Explore the importance of connection and community for building self-identity and belonging in children.

Workshop 2: Permission to Notice

⏰ 11.45AM - 12.30PM

Speaker: Karl Fice-Thomson
A reflective and practical workshop exploring how slowing down, shaping the environment, and trusting professional judgement can help children who are often overlooked begin to thrive. Grounded in real practice from Big F-T Shack and The Community Classroom, this session invites educators to rethink engagement, regulation, and curiosity in Early Years settings.

Workshop 3: Home is Where the Heart is.

⏰ 2.15PM - 3.00PM

Speaker: Alice Sharp Discover how reimagining the traditional home corner can create richer opportunities for children to develop connection, creativity, communication and the skills they need for the future. Explore practical ways to use thoughtful environments, meaningful resources and playful interactions to build children’s confidence, wellbeing and core strengths.

Workshop 4: Nurturing Environments and Responsive Relationships

⏰ 2.20PM - 3.05PM

Speaker: Sarah Hood Explore how to create a nurturing environment for all children under 2 to thrive.