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EYFS Conference: Keynotes

Manchester City Council and One Education are passionate about building foundations for success in the Early Years and are coming together to facilitate a conference which will explore how we can do this. The aim for the day is to collaborate, share and discover what works best for our young children in their early years.

workshop at leadership conference

Keynotes

Laura Henry-Allain MBE

Summary of Keynote 1:

The Power of Stories

In this keynote, Laura will share how stories can inspire children to learn more about the world they live in. She will also discuss the importance of sharing fiction and non-fiction books that show a variety of characters and situations that inform children about their own communities and those of others. Laura will also talk about how books support children with all areas of their learning and development; she will draw on research and explore how this translates to practice within settings. More importantly, Laura will discuss how settings can strengthen children’s learning and development within their home environment, sharing tips and ideas for the grown-up the child lives with. 

Biography:

Laura Henry-Allain MBE is an award-winning international educationalist, storyteller, 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. Laura has a new children’s animation that is currently in development.

Laura has worked with several global brands, including Paramount, Mattel, Moonbug, Hasbro, John Lewis, Comic Relief and Bafta.

Her bestselling children’s books include My Skin, Your Skin and My Family, Your Family. Her new book, Maya and Marley, centres on an Adventure Playground.

Laura is a board member of the Children’s Media Foundation and vice president of The British Association of Early Childhood Education. She is also a patron of the Grenada Community Library, mentor to the Grenfell Memorial Quilt and an Expert Commissioner on the National Inquiry into Play.

 

Valerie Daniel

Summary of Keynote 2:

Supporting the Achievement of Children in the Early Years

“Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential” (DfE, 2021). In practice we know that every child does not get the best possible start in life. Why is this? It appears that the focus is heavily on what children supposedly lack rather than the right kind of support to enable them to fulfil their potential. I wholeheartedly believe that the right kind of support sits squarely with early years educator’s commitment to empower all children to be the best versions of themselves. This requires deep reflection. As early years educators do we ever reflect on whether we really believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life? What does the best possible start in life actually look like? Is it the same for every child?  What are the issues that sit behind the disparities in early education? Strategic intention needs to have impact to make a real difference. It takes a high level of clarity to move intent from ideation towards real sustainable change for children.

 

Biography:

Dr Valerie Daniel is a qualified Teacher with over 40 years’ experience with the last 15 years as a Maintained Nursery School head teacher and over the last two years as an Executive headteacher over two nursery schools.

Her other roles include public speaking and she is the author of ‘Anti-Racist Practice in the Early Years’. She is one of fifteen head teachers who work within a contractual collaboration as part of Birmingham Association of Maintained Nursery Schools (BAMNS). Valerie has a deep interest in the dynamics of the current Early Years Sector and received her Doctorate in Education from the University of Birmingham on her thesis titled ‘The Perceptions of a Leadership Crisis in the Early Years Sector (EYS)’. She is also a trained Systems Leader and Leadership Mentor for other head teachers and leaders in the Early Years Sector.

Kerry Murphy

Summary of Keynote 3:

Understanding Neurodiversity in the Early Years 

In recent years, there has been a raised awareness of neurodiversity and how understanding developmental differences (neurodivergence) can help us move away from traditional deficit narratives that view children as problems to be fixed or cured. Educators are increasingly interested in developing strengths-based approaches that are empowering for children identified with special educational needs (SEN) in the early years.

This keynote will be broken down into three components to support your understanding of neurodiversity affirming practice:

  • Understanding the language and practice of neurodiversity. Key terms and concepts will be defined, and attendees will understand the power of reframing our language to be more inclusive and empowering.
  • Developing a strengths-based approach in child development. We will explore the different strengths, differences and needs of neurodivergent children, including communication, thinking skills, social and emotional development and sensory needs.
  • Play over Pathology – Educators will understand the importance of play for neurodivergent children including the diverse ways in which play can transpire.

Biography:

I am an early childhood specialist with a background in neurodiversity and disability. I am a lecturer in early years & SEND at Goldsmiths University, an author & student completing my EdD at Sheffield University. My aim in working in the early years is to challenge the deficit narrative around development differences and to improve the quality of play-based intervention so that there is a move away from teaching neurodivergent children to mimic neurotypical skills, also referred to as masking.

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