Early Words Matter conference: Their story starts with you

Early Words Matter conference: Their story starts with you

Our Talk To Your Baby conference is changing its name to Early Words Matter. We hope that you will join us.

Working together to support every child to find their voice

All children are unique. Fostering provision which values and responds to all children’s voices, across settings and the home learning environment, is vital for learning and well-being in the first 1001 days.

The election of a new Labour government on 4 July 2024 has ushered in an era of new possibilities for the early years sector. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said that “Early years is [ ] about giving every child the best possible start in life, which is why it’s my number one priority and right at the centre of my vision for education in this country.”

As we continue to implement our pioneering Early Words Matter campaign to support the communication, language and literacy skills of 250,000 children aged 0-5 in 20 of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities over the next  5 years, we are well placed to explore how to harness new opportunities within the sector and place children at the centre of their provision.

The Early Words Matter conference will provide an opportunity to explore the latest research and thought leadership in this space, and celebrate the incredible work that you do.

Confirmed speakers:

• Dr Stella Louis
  Dr Louis is an early years consultant, trainer and author. Her publications include Observing Children in Early Childhood (Sage Publications, 2022) and, with Hannah Betteridge, Lets Talk About Race in the Early Years (Routledge, 2024). Dr Louis leads a small team of Froebelian traveling tutors and has worked both in the United Kingdom and internationally to develop a Froebelian approach to teaching and learning.
  
  Dr Louis will discuss schemas, and how children use play as a starting point to extend their schematic explorations.
  
• Greg Bottrill
  Greg is an experienced early years practitioner and consultant, and author of Can I Go And Play Now? (Sage Publications, 2022), School and the Magic of Children (Sage Publications, 2020) and Love Letters To Play (Sage Publications, 2022). Greg advocates for children being co-creators of their education, and runs an extensive range of workshops designed to help settings to improve their provision.
  
  Greg will explore the power of the words we use in early years, and how they might be used to enrich communication.
  
• Dr Dan Wuori
  With more than 30 years of early years leadership, Dr. Wuori is the founder and president of Early Childhood Policy Solutions, a U.S.-based public policy consultancy, and has worked alongside governors and state legislators to improve early years policy across the United States. He is the author of The Daycare Myth: What We Get Wrong About Early Care and Education (and What We Should Do About It (Teachers College Press, 2024), and is known for his innovative use of social media to provide joyful and informative video footage of children's learning and development.
  
  Dr Wuori will outline the three simple truths of early development, referred to in Daycare Myths and drawn from decades of scientific research, and explore their implications for children, families, and the UK’s long-term prosperity. He will call on parents, professionals, and elected leaders to revisit their decision making in accordance with these critical lessons.

• Jan Dubiel
  Jan is a nationally and internationally recognised specialist in early childhood education, and in 2018 was identified by the Times Educational Supplement as one of the ten most influential people in British education. He was appointed by the then Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to lead on the management of the (Early Years) Foundation Stage Profile. Jan was previously the Head of National and International Development at Early Excellence and Director of Early Years for AISL Harrow International schools and Bilingual Kindergartens. Jan currently works as Project Director for hey! at Coram Hempsall’s. He has written widely on different aspects of early years policy, pedagogy and practice and is the author of Effective Assessment in the EYFS (SAGE, 2014).
  
  Jan will explore why, in order to be successful, the professional and pedagogical repertoire of those working in early years will be personal, eclectic, and evidence-informed, and will need to belong to the individual educators.

Meet our sponsors

We are proud to deliver our Early Words Matter conference in partnership with KPMG and Cosy.

• KPMG's vision is to help empower and drive opportunity in disadvantaged communities across the UK. It is their aim that where you are from, or your background, does not dictate your life chances.
  
• Cosy promote a natural, engaged and active childhood by supplying sustainable nursery and educational equipment worldwide. Their range is designed to encourage activities that enable children to learn and develop whilst having fun.

Attending the early years conference

The Early Words Matter conference will take place from 9am - 4pm on Wednesday 19 March at KPMG, London.

Book now at the early bird rate of £195.00

Each ticket includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

Book your place using the form below.

If you have any questions, please contact Ruth King on ruth.king@literacytrust.org.uk or 07542 228233.