The Nursery World Show 2017 on 3-4 February at the Business Design Centre, Islington was the best yet, all were agreed.
More than 3,350 visitors from every part of the early years community – a record number –streamed into the venue to make the most of an exciting array of activities over the two days.
The exhibition, with more than 100 stands, was packed out, with exhibitors finding lots of interest in their products, services and information. Leading equipment suppliers including Community Playthings, TTS, Hope, Hand Made Places and YPO set up large displays of innovative new resources.
Visitors could feature in a Tales Toolkit story, practise CPR on a dummy baby at Omnia, enter Blossom’s competition, and test out delicious food from the Nursery Catering Company.
Also exhibiting were charities, book publishers, early years organisations, training companies, nurseries, recruitment agencies, unions, IT companies, nutrition suppliers and the DfE.
CPD was high on the agenda, with a fabulous array of 22 seminars and masterclasses led by top early years names. World-renowned self-regulation experts Professor Clancy Blair and Professor C Cybele Raver, along with Dr Julian Grenier, inspired the Friday masterclass delegates, with communication and language from Penny Tassoni, Alice Sharp and Dr Danielle Matthews taking centre stage on Saturday.
Many seminars were sold out, with sessions on Reggio Emilia, Froebel and Montessori proving hugely popular.
Special feature zones around the show provided a real buzz, with the NEyTCO Training & Consultancy Zone drawing the crowds, as did TTS’s Early Years Resources & Learning Zone. The Live Theatre hosted a stream of great speakers and the Nutrition Zone featured cookery displays and nutrition advice. Nursery group LEYF had a packed itinerary interviewing prospective staff in its specially recreated nursery.
Thanks to sponsors TTS, NEyTCO, Blossom Educational (for the show bags, badges and wifi), childcare.co.uk for the Live Theatre, and all our exhibitors, visitors and speakers.
Next year’s show is already eagerly anticipated – but before then, Nursery World North in Liverpool on 5-6 May is sure to bring a great experience to even more of the early years sector.
- www.nurseryworldshow.com
- http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/nursery-world/other/1160273/nursery-world-north-ferre-laevers-to-lead-masterclass
- See more pictures from the Show in the next issue of Nursery World on 20 February.
