Our NDNA Conference Practice Stream is packed with inspiration and ideas for the nursery floor. Book for just £25 a ticket to celebrate 25 years of NDNA being a charity!
Practice Stream Chair: Sara Bonetti
Sara is Interim Director of the Institute of Early Years Education and researcher with 15 years of experience advocating on behalf of children and families within government, non-profit and research institutions. Her work focuses on the early years workforce, and the relationship between workforce characteristics and children’s outcomes, particularly socio-emotional development, and language and communication skills. She has also done extensive research on leadership and systems integration.
Your speakers include:
Ashley John-Baptiste
Promoting the positive path
This session will explore:
- How early years workers can steer vulnerable young children onto a positive path of self-esteem and aspiration.
More about Ashley:
Ashley John-Baptiste is an award-winning broadcaster and TV presenter, making reports & hosting The One Show, Sunday Morning Live and also Morning Live & News. He is also a Senior Reporter for BBC News and was the lead reporter on The Mall for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Funeral and Coronation of His Majesty The King. Ashley’s debut book ‘Looked After: A Childhood in Care’ is to be released in June 2024.
Elliott Rae
Empowering fathers: strategies for engaging dads and fostering lasting connections with their children
This session will explore:
- How fatherhood has changed over the past few decades and in recent years, expectations and demands of modern family life and why it’s imperative to engage men in their fatherhood role
- Barriers to fathers being equal and active parents and uncover some of the proven techniques for engaging dads in childcare services.
More about Elliott:
Elliott Rae is the founder of the parenting platform MusicFootballFatherhood, called the ‘Mumsnet for Dads’ by the BBC. He is the curator of the bestselling book, DAD, presenter of BBC One documentary ‘Becoming Dad’, co-founder of the Working Dads Employer Awards and creator of the Parenting Out Loud campaign which encourages and working dads to be equal and active parents. Elliott is the ex-Head of DEI Delivery at HM Treasury and one of the UK’s most prominent speakers on fatherhood, mental health and masculinity. His work on gender equality has been recognised by the United Nations and he was awarded the #HeForShe award by UN Women UK.
Jo Stevenson
Your health and well-being: Recharge and relax
We know your job is stressful and there are techniques to help you look after yourself first and foremost.
This session will explore:
- Learn simple yogic techniques so that you can understand, manage, and improve your personal stress response
- Shift your mind state and mood in a matter of minutes with breathwork, mindfulness and meditation.
More about Jo:
Jo Stevenson is a Kundalini yoga and meditation teacher, who is dedicated to supporting, coaching and inspiring individuals to relax, recharge and reset. Jo enjoyed a varied corporate career working for some of the UK’s leading professional services firms for almost two decades before experiencing adrenal fatigue and burn out in 2013. This led her to discover the transformative power of yoga and how in a short space of time this technology can build resilience to manage stress effectively, minimise anxiety and alleviate physical pain.
Penny Greenland
Developmental movement approach to physical development
This session will explore:
- An introduction to a developmental movement approach to physical development and the power of movement play to drive well-being and learning
- What kinds of movement are important
- How babies and children build the milestone movements by combining early movement patterns
- Why sensory development is such an important aspect of physical development.
- Specific aspects of physical play – spontaneous, free flow movement play – and why this needs to happen inside as well as outside
- The idea of sensory-driven movement play.
Attendees will take away an observation structure to sharpen their observation skills back in their setting.
More about Penny:
Penny Greenland is the founder of JABADAO – a research, development and training organisation exploring physical development across the early years.
Between 1998 and 2009 she lead an in-depth action research project exploring the way adults support young children’s (0-6) physicality. From this, the JABADAO team created the Developmental Movement Play approach, training over 19,000 practitioners and creating new opportunities for 50,000+ children. Penny is author of ‘Hopping Home Backwards: body intelligence and movement play’ and a contributor to several early years text books.
Maria Thomas and Simon Hewitt Jones
Junk percussion in early years settings
The session will include:
- An introduction to junk percussion in early years settings
- Classroom management when using instruments
- Activities that can be developed in the classroom.
More about The Music Workshop Company:
The Music Workshop Company have been supplying interactive music workshops to educational settings, charities and businesses since 2002. Maria Thomas, Artistic Director of The Music Workshop Company, specialises in early years and Primary workshops. Simon Hewitt Jones, musician and educator, has delivered workshops and classes in a wide range of settings.
Paula Dunn
Championing high quality education for all children
More about Paula:
Paula Dunn Champions Lead Early Years Adviser. Starting out in the early years sector in 2004, Paula was involved in the establishment of Sure Start local programmes, supporting the set-up of neighbourhood nurseries alongside developing and delivering a range of early years play and learning activities for children and families. Prior to joining NDNA, Paula had a long-standing role as a Local Authority Early Years Adviser and trainer working with schools, early years settings and childminders. She has a BA Hons in Early Childhood Studies and EYP status.
Emma Gardener
Over the last few years, Emma have been fortunate to work for organisations such as NDNA and Ofsted, supporting the development of the early years sector, who do an incredible job, supporting all children, including our most vulnerable. Emma’s current role is Quality Manager for Spring by Action for Children, a national childcare group with over 24 nurseries and 10 out of school clubs. In this role, Emma support over 600 staff across all three nations, working with over 4000 families, developing strategies that support the best outcomes for all children in their care.
Tickets only £25!
Yes, you heard it right! To celebrate 25 years of NDNA being a charity, we are thrilled to launch all conference tickets to NDNA members for just £25.
Non-members are still very welcome at NDNA Conference for the full price of NDNA membership. Alternatively, why not sign up to NDNA membership and receive a huge range of member benefits along with a £25 conference ticket?
Leaders and practitioners, we can’t wait to welcome you to our annual flagship event to keep you informed, improve your practice and continue growing together.
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