A hands-on space for playful, purposeful learning in early years education.

🧱 Workshop 1: Block Play

⏰ 11.00AM - 11.40AM

Facilitator: Daniel Spry
Join early childhood expert Daniel Spry for a practical and interactive session on the power of block play. Explore how this foundational activity supports cognitive development, creativity, and early STEM learning.

🌿 Workshop 2: Fires, Tools and 10 minute Tarps

Facilitator: Tom Richardson

⏰ 11.45AM - 12.30PM

Discover the power of outdoor learning and how nature-based play supports children’s development across all areas. This workshop explores how to make the most of your outdoor space, plan for purposeful outdoor experiences, and embed nature-led learning into your everyday curriculum.

🎵 Workshop 3: Music & Movement with Boogie Mites

⏰ 2.15PM - 3.00PM

Facilitator: Sue Newman
Join Sue Newman from Boogie Mites for an energising session on the role of music in early years development. Explore how rhythm, movement, and song can boost language, coordination, and confidence — all while having fun. You’ll leave with ideas you can bring straight back to your setting.

Workshops focused on business, wellbeing, and sector leadership.

🧑‍🏫 Workshop 1: Future Leaders

⏰ 11.00AM - 11.40AM

Speaker: Tom Richardson

Exploring how we can identify, support, and empower emerging leaders in the early years sector. This workshop focuses on strategies to nurture leadership potential, create growth pathways, and build the confidence and skills of tomorrow’s sector champions.

🧑‍🏫 Workshop 2: Asking the Awkward Questions:Inclusion for Same-Gender Families

⏰ 11.45AM - 12.30PM

Speaker: Jay Sparkle
Jay will be sharing an important conversation on how Early Years settings can support and include same-gender families. With a blend of personal stories and professional insight, Jay will offer real-life experiences that highlight the value of true inclusivity. This talk will dive into the questions many people often feel too awkward to ask, opening the door to honest, meaningful dialogue about creating safe and welcoming environments for every family.

🎙️ Workshop 3: The Voice of Early Childhood – Live Podcast

⏰ 2.15PM - 3.00PM

Featuring: Special Guest
Join Angelica in a live recording of the Voice of Early Childhood podcast with a surprise guest, diving into real-world challenges and bold ideas shaping the future of early education.

Future-focused insights and practical tools to elevate your practice.

🥦 Workshop 1: The Role of the PANCo in Early Years Settings

⏰ 11.00AM - 11.40AM

Speaker: Emalee Caton
A good level of physical development, paired with a healthy, balanced diet, is essential for children’s overall growth and learning. This workshop explores the vital role of the Physical Activity and Nutrition Coordinator (PANCo) in promoting healthier lifestyles in early years settings — and how wellbeing, nutrition, and movement can be embedded meaningfully into everyday practice.

🧸 Workshop 2: The Seriousness of Play

⏰ 11.45AM - 12.30PM

Speaker: Jan Dubiel
This session challenges the misconception that play is simply recreational. Jan Dubiel explores how play is a critical vehicle for learning, development, and wellbeing — and why it deserves to be central to curriculum planning, assessment, and practice in early years settings.

🌲 Workshop 3: Immersive Storytelling in Nature

⏰ 2.15PM - 3.00PM

Speaker: Mandy Richardson
Join Mandy Richardson for a rich, sensory session on the art of immersive storytelling — from beachside tales to forest folklore. You'll explore the power of storytelling, dive into local legends, and take part in engaging group activities that bring stories to life in natural environments. A magical session for practitioners looking to inspire imagination and connection through nature and narrative.

Future-focused insights and practical tools to elevate your practice.

🎈 Workshop 1: Joyful Play

Speaker: Ben Kingston-Hughes
Rediscover the joy and science of play — and how it shapes every aspect of development.

⏰ 11.00AM - 11.40AM

🧠 Workshop 2: Baby Brain Building

⏰ 11.45AM - 12.30PM

Speaker: Clare Steed
Unpack the latest research in infant brain development and how early experiences shape lifelong learning.

Workshop 3: Nature’s Elements: Artful Encounters in the Early Years

⏰ 2.15PM - 3.00PM

Speaker: Alice Sharp

Step into a world where art and nature meet to ignite children’s creativity and deepen their connection to the world around them. This hands-on, reflective workshop explores the seven elements of art through a nature-inspired lens, offering practical ideas and provocations to transform your nursery spaces into rich, sensory landscapes for thinking and expression.