The Early Years Leadership Conference 2024

June 14th, The H Suite, Birmingham

Great to see you...

Welcome leaders, owners, and managers of early childhood settings, to The Early Years Leadership Conference; your exclusive opportunity for growth, connection, and empowerment. We are thrilled to share this day with you and know that you will take so much from this action-packed event

This conference has been expertly designed with you in mind, recognising your vital role in shaping the future of early childhood education.

Why we created this conference

We understand the challenges and responsibilities you face daily. That’s why

we’ve created The Early Years Leadership Conference – a space dedicated to supporting and empowering you. Our aim is to provide valuable insights, foster connections, and equip you with the tools you need to thrive in your leadership role.

What sets us apart

This conference is designed exclusively for you – the leaders, owners, and managers in the early childhood education sector. Unlike other events, we focus solely on topics relevant to your unique needs and priorities. From effective leadership strategies to business management tips, our sessions are tailored to help you excel in your role.

Key highlights

• Connect with fellow leaders and industry experts, expanding your professional network and forging valuable relationships.

• Gain insights from renowned early years experts on a variety of topics, from curriculum development to staff management.

• Elevate your skills and knowledge through reflective discussions and seminars, specifically designed to enhance your leadership capabilities.

• Access leading suppliers from the Early Years Sector who understand your unique needs and have tailored solutions for you.

What You Will Gain:

By attending The Early Years Leadership Conference, you can expect to:

• Expand your professional network and connect with peers who share your passion for early childhood education.

• Acquire practical strategies and insights to strengthen your leadership skills and drive success in your early years setting.

• Access valuable resources and tools to support your ongoing professional development journey.

• Leave inspired, motivated, and equipped to lead with confidence and excellence.

So, embrace all that The Early Years Leadership Conference has to offer. Dive into the sessions, connect with fellow leaders, and participate actively in every opportunity for learning and growth. Your presence at this conference is a testament to your commitment to excellence in early childhood education. Let’s make the most of this invaluable experience together. Embrace every moment, engage with enthusiasm, and let’s create meaningful connections and insights that will positively impact every child we work with.

Let’s make today extraordinary!

Conference timetable

Time Agenda

9:30 – 9:45 Registration and refreshments

10:00 Welcome from the EYLC

Kelly Hill - The Early Years Company.

Vanessa Chandler - Polylino

10:15 – 11:15

Guest Speaker: Cheryl Warren - Aperion, SEND Training & Consultancy. Neuroinclusion.

11:15 -11:30 Break for networking and refreshments

Ciaran Flynn - Child Paths

11:30 – 12:30

Guest Speaker: Wendy Garrett - Garrett Learning. Creating a Well-being Culture and Mental Health in Early Years.

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch

Jack Edwards - Swift

1:45 – 2:45

Guest Speaker: Kelly Fisher-Beasley - The Early Years Company. A Leader’s Guide to Neglect Awareness.

2:45 – 3:00 Break for networking and refreshments

Claudio Sisera - Male Childcare & Teaching Jobs

3:00 – 4:00

Jordan Tully - Exploring Early Years with Jordan Tully. Leadership - Reflecting, Review and Improving.

4:00 – 4:30 Panel

Kelly Hill, Vanessa Chandler, Ciaran Flynn, Jack Edwards and Claudio Sisera.

4:30 – 5:00 Networking & Close

Diversify Diversify Your Teaching Your Teaching Workforce: The Smart Way Workforce: The Smart Way tto o IInclusion nclusion

Studies

Child-educator relationships

Children’s engagement

In the UK , men In the UK , men represent represent2% 2%ofthe ofthe Early Years Early YearsTeaching Workforce. Teaching Workforce.

Supporting Supporting Organisations in Organisations

Guest speakers

Cheryl Warren Aperion - SEND Training & Consultancy

Cheryl has over 30 yearsexperience within the early years sector and is now a consultant and award winning trainer, working with nurseries and schools across the UK. Cheryl’s passion and specialism for understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity within early years is impactful

Wendy Garrett Garrett Learning

“With 1-in- 4 people experiencing poor mental health each year, it’s important to have the skills to support others and have a mentally well workplace culture”. Following redundancy in 2020, Wendy established Garrett Learning and has trained over 800 people in mental health skills.

Kelly Fisher-Beasley The Early Years Company

Kelly is a highly experienced early years teacher, advisor, trainer and coach with almost 20 years in the sector. During her career she has developed many roles, largely supported PVI settings with their curriculum implementation, in recent years finding a passion in safeguarding. This led to Kelly

and comes from the heart, as a professional and also as a parent of two neurodivergent children herself. Her work includes regular invitations to deliver seminars and training at key sector events and conferences and webinars that have been watched worldwide, and she is also in the process of writing a book on her work.

Wendy’s varied career history has helped to shape who she is and has provided her with incredible life experiences and stories to share. She likes to “Keep it real”. She became a qualified trainer in 2012 working with apprenticeship - provided, and corporate Learning & Development teams.

specialising in this area and becoming a trainer to ensure that safeguarding is at the heart of all early years practice. In 2023 Kelly became the first franchisee of The Early Years Company, expanding her training and coaching skillset offering face-to-face and online training for settings in Birmingham.

Jordan Tully Exploring Early Years with Jordan Tully

Jordan has 13 years’ experience in the early years sector, with various roles that have afforded him the opportunity to progress to senior levels of group setting management. With experience in early years quality and operational management, he has led teams in 32 nurseries across the UK, totalling

over 500 staff team members. Jordan is passionate about sharing his knowledge with others through conferences, seminars, webinars, coaching, training and most recently through his ‘Exploring Early Years With Jordan Tully’ Podcast. Jordan continues to be an advocate for men in early years.

Bring the magic of storytime to all children!

650+ high-quality books selected by UK children's literature expert and aligned to the UK national curriculum syllabus (Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage One).

Easy to use alongside traditional books and available as an app, on mobile devices or on a desktop, to access at nursery or at home. Polylino means more books! Number 1 in Scandinavia

Polylino is a multilingual digital picture book service which provides instant access to hundreds of books which can be listened to and read in over 68

Event notes

A MAP FROM CLASSROOM TO CAREER

Embark on a journey of innovation with Child Paths at The Early Years Leadership Conference.

Discover how technology like Child Paths will help revolutionise early childhood education. Echoing the sentiments of thought leaders such as Bill Gates, who emphasizes the

importance of a ‘Classroom to Career’ approach, Bill said recently, “With a pathway guiding them, children are less likely to feel lost and more likely to find their way from school to higher education to a fulfilling career, the more high-quality pathways that exist, the better.”

Instil Confidence - Self-belief - Self-esteem

In our talk, we unveil how technology bridges the gap between preschool, primary and secondary education, fostering seamless transitions and personalized support for every child. By leveraging data on strengths, interests, abilities, skills and competencies, nurseries and schools can collaboratively guide each student’s educational journey, ensuring they

thrive at every stage. Our platform empowers educators to map career pathways tailored to each child’s unique profile, instilling confidence, self-belief, and self-esteem early on. Join us at The Early Years Leadership Conference and witness first-hand how Child Paths reshapes education, paving the way for a brighter future for all children.

Thank you for attending

The venue

The H Suite is located close to Birmingham city centre, with close links to the motorway and public transport. It’s also nearby premier city hotels and is situated outside of the Clean Air Zone so charges can be avoided depending on your entry route and method of transport.

The H Suite 100 Icknield Port Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands B16 0AA

“In the garden of humanity, the early years are when we plant the seeds of empathy, curiosity, and love.”

CONFERENCE ORGANISERS

“A

child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark. The early years are the first strokes of ink that shape their story.”

“Play is the highest form of research in the early years, teaching more about life than anything else.”