Early Words Matter conference
Celebrating excellence in early years
Our annual Early Words Matter conference provides an opportunity to showcase thought leadership and best practice in the early years sector.
The National Literacy Trust is dedicated to empowering people with the literacy skills they need to succeed in life.
We work alongside early education providers, speech and language therapists, health services, and community and voluntary organisations to help develop early communication skills in the children they support and care for. We work alongside and train early years staff and volunteers to work with families, building the confidence of parents and carers so that they can support their children’s communication, language and literacy skills at home.
Each year, our early years practitioner conference is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible work that you do, with inspiring insights and practical approaches to help you continue to nurture early literacy skills that are vital to children's life outcomes.
Early Words Matter 2027
Our next early years conference, From first words to big ideas: communication, curiosity and connection in the early years takes place 5 March 2027 in Manchester.
Here's what practitioners say about our early years conference:
'(The most valuable part of the conference was...) Speakers who helped me to take practical learning back into the family hub, learning that will have a direct impact on the children and families we work with.' Attendee, 2025
'The speakers spoke with passion and great knowledge about their subject. It reignited me and I was able to take away some very practical things that I can do straight away.' Attendee, 2025
'You reinforced the belief that Early Years Education is critically important and deserves the respect, quality and professionalism afforded by this venue and calibre of speakers.' Attendee, 2025
'Absolutely inspirational day, fantastic speakers so captivating and the day flew by. Thank you so much, I wish I could have brought the entire workforce of Plymouth!' Attendee, 2026
'(The most valuable part of the conference was...) Sharing best practice with others, hearing the same values from the speakers, that we also hold dear.' Attendee, 2026
Early Words Matter campaign
Early Words Matter is our pioneering, five-year campaign to support 250,000 children across the UK. It will include flagship programmes and local community outreach in areas worst hit by poverty and the cost-of-living crisis.
The government’s Giving every child the best start in life strategy places early childhood at the heart of its ambition to improve children’s learning and life chances. This has provided an ongoing opportunity to explore and celebrate the vital role of those working across the early years sector.
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 to 5 in 21 of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities over the next five years, we have marked this important policy shift with our annual Early Words Matter conference, formerly Talk To Your Baby.
We are excited to explore the long-term economic and moral imperative for a place-based, cross-sector investment in early years.