The Nursery WorldShow programme planning process involves a lot of people, research and back and forth changes before final decisions on the content are made.
We have a new advisory board every year, which includes people working in the early years sector who provide valuable insight into the needs of educators. The advisory board meets to discuss initial ideas and critically evaluate the draft programme. This is then influenced by feedback from educators who have previously attended the show and also those who have never been, in order to understand the sector’s wide-ranging training needs.
A DIVERSE RANGE OF SPEAKERS
As the programme lead for the 2023 and 2024 shows, my aim continues to be centred on creating seminars that spark reflection, critical thinking and discussion, both during and after the show.
I also want to ensure the content comes from a wide range of diverse speakers. You may have encountered speakers you had not heard of at the 2023 show, and this will also be the case for the 2024 programme.
There are many educators, academics, researchers and other professionals who are doing some fantastic work, and the show is an opportunity to give their research and practice exposure.
LEADERSHIP AND PRACTICE
The topics for the seminars have been considered through a wide range of lenses.
First, we have ensured we are responsive to the sector’s current needs and that educators’ voices are truly listened to.
Second, it is important that the seminars appeal to a range of professionals in different roles. With this in mind, we have prioritised leadership and practice. Starting with these ensures that everyone can find something of interest in the programme.
Wide consensus from feedback, previous show data and discussions highlights the importance of the following areas:
- Supporting children’s health.
- Understanding the development of babies.
- Ensuring communication, language and literacy is a central focus of practice.
- Understanding behaviour and supporting additional needs.
Among these we are also ensuring that global issues are addressed, which include topics that are not necessarily centred around a specific area of learning, development or practice. These include creative pedagogies, curriculum building, slow pedagogy and anti-discriminatory practice.
It is also important to consider other vital topics which have been shared as areas of interest, such as supporting transitions, inspection, parents as educators, mental health and wellbeing, safeguarding and maths mastery.
Of course, the challenge is ensuring everyone is happy with the programme, but even with 27 diverse seminars, not all topics can be included. So it is important for attendees to provide feedback for the following year to ensure the programme is once again different, interesting and responsive to the sector’s needs.
Your own professional development is a vital part of the work you do with children and families every single day, as well as an important aspect of your own personal and professional progress.
So do take the opportunity to make the most of the Nursery World Show and take everything you can from it to carry on doing the amazing work that you do as an educator. I look forward to welcoming you to the 2024 show!
NURSERY WORLD SHOW 2024
Come along on 2-3 February at the Business Design Centrein Islington
Angelica Celinska is founder of The Voice of Early Childhood and a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University
