Conference programme
09:30 Welcome and introduction
09:40 Welcome and updates - Donna Manson, Chief Executive and Jack Newton, Interim Deputy Director – Inclusion and Learning, Devon County Council
10:00 Social Justice, Sustainability and the Role of ECEC - June O’Sullivan, CEO at London Early Years Foundation
In a world grappling with rising inequality and the climate crisis, young children are often among the first to feel the consequences. Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings are not just places of learning—they are critical frontline responders to social injustice.
As child poverty and health inequities increase, ECEC becomes a key driver of systemic change and social justice. When educators are empowered to become sustainability-informed, they gain a deeper understanding of how the three pillars of sustainability—social, environmental, and economic—interconnect, and how their daily decisions can influence justice and equity.
By drawing on principles of social pedagogy, we can weave together curriculum, home learning, and multi-generational community practice. This approach shapes both practice and policy in ways that genuinely support children’s learning, development, and wellbeing.
It is through social leadership, sustainable business models, and sustainability-informed educators that we can translate vision into action—building fairer, greener communities that start with our youngest citizens.
11:15 Refreshments, networking and exhibition
11:45 Can we have an honest conversation about inequality? - Dr Valerie Daniel, Executive Headteacher, Washwood Heath Nursery School
There is currently an anti-equality position on a global scale which is loud, bold, divisive and unrelenting. In all honesty, in the face of all this intense distaste of equality it is easier to accept that the world will never be equal so does inequality really matter? Should we not just press on with the job at hand and let the chips fall where they may?
As long as we as educators, health workers, social workers, civil servants and public servants such as the police, have influence over a child’s life, it matters!
The children we work with may only be a part of our day job, but to them, we are their childhood, their youth, we are their attitude to education and how they process the world around them. As individuals who can support making this world a better place to live in for all, we must first recognise that stereotypes and prejudices are conclusions drawn from our own personal upbringing.
The big questions regarding our belief systems should be: How justified are my perceptions? If I deconstruct these perceptions, do they make sense? There is a need to explore where our stereotypical perceptions come from and that they are based on incomplete and imperfect information.
We owe this to every child who is entrusted to our care
13:00 Lunch, networking and exhibition
14:15 Supporting Children’s Sensory & Emotional Regulation Needs within Nature Based Spaces - Chris West, Consultant Occupational Therapist, Sensory Connections Ltd
Early Years Practitioners (EYP’s) play a key role in supporting the sensory and emotional regulation needs of young children. The outdoor environment offers significant opportunities for this, thus supporting participation offers all children the best start to grow well emotionally and physically in their bodies, and their minds.
The EcoSensory Therapy model offers a meaningful framework to support the seven areas of learning and development within the Early Years Framework (EYF), offering EYP’s further creative and meaningful resources to support children in reaching their potential.
Understanding the principles and foundations of sensory and emotional regulation, and how participation in outdoor enriched environment activities can support this will be explored.
Evidence for the positive impact of nature-based work will be discussed and provided.
15:10 Comfort break
15:15 Keynote details coming soon - Matt Bawler
16:15 Close of conference
