Nearly 3,000 visitors poured through the doors to see the exhibition, attend a great line-up of seminars and masterclasses, hear from experts at the Live Theatre stage, watch tasty nursery food being cooked up in the Nutrition Zone, network with people from across the early years sector and talk to the Nursery World team.
More than 100 happy exhibitors at the show reported having a very busy time, with lots of interest in their products, services and information. Leading equipment suppliers including Community Playthings, Early Years Direct (show headline sponsor), TTS and Hope set up brightly-coloured, interactive stands, full of innovative new resources. Also exhibiting were charities, early years organisations, training companies, nurseries, unions, IT companies, nutrition suppliers and the DfE. Visitors left with bags stuffed with new resources for their nurseries, as well as plenty of ideas.
The dynamic programme of 22 seminars and masterclasses was mostly sold out, and featured many top names providing unrivalled CPD opportunities. Undoubted star of the show was famous author and broadcaster Michael Rosen, whose presentations for ‘We’re Going on a Language Hunt’ went down a storm. Professor Tina Bruce and Dr Julian Grenier led a vibrant Early Years Provision in Schools masterclass.
Another well-known name drawing the crowds was best-selling cookery book author Annabel Karmel, who got her apron on to create a fruity chicken curry in the Nutrition Zone. The Live Theatre (sponsored by childcare.co.uk), too, had some big audiences for first aid demos and talks on training and practice.
With many exhibitors already confirmed to return for the next Nursery World Show, we’re planning how to make it even bigger and better. Roll on 2017!
See more pictures from the Nursery World Show 2016 in our next issue on 22 February.
