Our Senior Team
Meeting people, sharing ideas and forming partnerships is how we work at Early Excellence – and here are some of the people you will meet as you explore working with us.
We are uniquely placed to become an effective partner in driving forward innovation and offer specialist advice and strategic support to help you achieve your vision. So, if developing early years or rethinking KS1 is one of your priorities, do get in touch, we’d be delighted to support you.
Zena Wilson
CEO
Zena Wilson is the CEO, having moved into this role in 2025 on the retirement of Early Excellence’s founder, Liz Marsden. Zena is a strong leader dedicated to ensuring the well-being, growth, and overall operational efficiency of the Company as it continues to pursue its mission to support best practice and provision in EYFS & KS1. Previously Zena spent many fulfilling years as a Merchandiser, a role she greatly enjoyed, and having moved to Early Excellence for a career with a deeper sense of purpose, soon embraced the mission and values of the Company, becoming Sales & Supply Manager, then Head of Operations and HR, and now a Company Director and the CEO. Zena is committed to quality practices that enable the Company, across all its departments, to work effectively together to ensure that Early Excellence maintains its unparalleled reputation for supporting schools to improve outcomes for children aged 2-7yrs.
Nikki Walters
Head of School Services
Nikki is a director of Early Excellence and a key member of our Strategic Leadership Team. She connects with LA, MATs, schools and settings to discuss and shape bespoke programmes of support, and she co-ordinates the work of the Curriculum Team who deliver onsite consultancy and training. Nikki brings with her over 20yrs experience of supporting school improvement, helping to develop quality EYFS and KS1 practice in schools. Previously Nikki taught for 10yrs in both the EYFS and KS1 and worked for Leicestershire County Council as a Senior Improvement Advisor providing support and challenge to childminders, settings and schools. She also led the Early Learning and Childcare Service where she worked strategically to support leaders and managers in Teaching Schools and Multi-Academy Trusts.
Phil Armstrong
Senior Education Lead
With a keen eye on the national agenda, policy developments, research and practice, Phil is a key member of our Strategic Leadership Team. He leads on educational developments and their implications for schools, offering consultancy and training to schools across England and internationally, focused on school improvement priorities. Previously Phil has worked for over 20yrs across the early years and primary sector, including teacher, leader and headship positions. Phil was also the Head of an integrated early years centre. With a passion for collaborative practice and professional development; Phil has worked in partnership with early years settings, schools, teaching schools and local authorities to develop and deliver personalised programmes to meet their needs.
Sarah Carey
School Improvement Lead
Sarah is a key member of our Strategic Leadership Team. Focused on designing, developing and delivering School Improvement Services, she offers expert support to senior leaders who need help in driving forward their improvement priorities in EYFS & KS1. Sarah brings over 20yrs experience in school improvement having been an EYFS Leader, Assistant Head, Deputy Head and Headteacher. She places high-value on quality CPD, collaboration and support and is highly-experienced at strategic planning for sustained school improvements. During her career, Sarah held many leadership posts in a wide range of subjects including Literacy and Maths and, as an Infant School Head for 7yrs, she led sustained development of teaching and learning, pedagogy and provision achieving significant improvements in outcomes.
Matthew Sayer
Curriculum Consultant & EYFS Trainer
Matthew is a core member of the EEX Curriculum Team specialising in long-term support to help schools embed quality practice. With over 20yrs experience in education as an early years teacher, EYFS Lead and LA Advisor, Matthew is well equipped to help EYFS Teams to review and reflect, develop and sustain quality practice.
With a key role in developing CPD materials, Matthew brings a deep understanding of how young children learn, using the latest research and guidance to advise, support and challenge schools to achieve best outcomes.
In addition, Matthew has a vital role in the curation of high-quality environments that fully support children’s learning, using his knowledge and experience to help deepen understanding of developmentally appropriate practice.
Andy Burt
Curriculum Consultant & EYFS Trainer
Andy is a highly experienced and dynamic Consultant, Teacher and Senior Leader, who specialises in helping practitioners to develop high quality practice in the EYFS and KS1. His previous roles include teaching from Nursery to Year 2, EYFS Leader, Deputy Headteacher and Advanced Skills Teacher. In his classroom practice, Andy developed creative and innovative approaches to learning over a number of years. In 2011, Andy co-wrote the text Understanding How Young Children Learn Through Play in collaboration with Professor Pat Broadhead. The book was published by Routledge in 2011 and has since become a key text on childhood studies and early childhood education courses.
Nova Robinson
Curriculum Consultant & KS1 Trainer
Nova is a highly knowledgeable KS1 Consultant who supports schools who are rethinking practice and provision in Y1 & Y2. Nova has an extensive career in primary schools, having taught children from Reception to Y6, and with roles including Assistant Head and Deputy Head, holding responsibility for leading EYFS, KS1 & KS2. Her expertise lies in developing a broad and balanced curriculum supported by an effective learning environment that enables children to acquire and apply knowledge through independent work and enquiry: she is passionate about involving children of all ages in their own learning. Nova is experienced in peer-to-peer support and delivers KS1 training and consultancy.
Clare King
Curriculum Consultant & EYFS/KS1 Trainer
Clare is a highly accomplished teacher and leader, who has been at the forefront of school improvement and leadership in both Kent and Cambridgeshire. Clare has held senior roles including Head of Early Years and Children’s Centre Strategic Manager as well as Assistant and Deputy Headteacher and Acting Headteacher. She has worked with Local Authorities, MAT’s and schools using her passion and Early Years specialism to drive school improvement and pupil outcomes. Clare is a highly regarded leader in school improvement, curriculum development and high quality learning environments with proven knowledge of early childhood development 3-7yrs.
Anna Caulfield
Curriculum Consultant & EYFS/KS1 Trainer
Anna is an accomplished EYFS and KS1 Consultant who offers expert support to school leaders drawing on her extensive experience in primary education. She has held a variety of senior roles, including Head and SENCo where she has driven school improvement and managed strategic change. With a passion for leading in curriculum development, Anna has experience of mentoring new heads, school-to-school support and facilitating the NPQSL programme. Her expertise spans strategic planning and leadership development, underpinned by a strong academic foundation in education.
Jude Arkwright
Curriculum Consultant & EYFS/KS1 Trainer
Jude is a highly experienced leader with a strong background in Early Years, Year 1 and Year 2. She brings extensive expertise in early primary education and is passionate about using evidence-based research to inform teaching and learning, particularly in extending continuous provision from Early Years into Key Stage 1.
Jude was previously Headteacher of St Michael’s CE VA Primary School and, alongside her headship, worked with the Local Authority School Effectiveness Team as a consultant headteacher, supporting and mentoring school leaders to drive improvement. She has presented at national conferences and collaborated with organisations including the EEF and Myatt & Co, contributing to podcasts and case studies focused on research-informed practice.
Lynda Trueman
Associate Leadership Consultant
Lynda is a highly experienced school leader having spent over 35yrs in school and LA roles. Her expertise in curriculum and pedagogy has developed through her teaching and leadership in both infant and primary schools, culminating in Head of a very successful Nursery and Primary school. Lynda’s LA roles included Early Years Advisor; School Inspector; Head of the School Improvement Partnership team; and Head of the Early Years and Childcare Service. Through her strategic support for settings and schools, Lynda earned a strong reputation for her inspirational leadership and contribution to LA wide improvements in both pupil achievement and inspection outcomes.
Jude Twani
Associate Curriculum Consultant
Jude is a highly talented early years consultant and trainer. She has a background steeped in early years having held a range of roles, first as a YR Teacher and then later as an Early Years Consultant and Children’s Centre Teacher. A trained NVQ Assessor and Ofsted Inspector, Jude has delivered training with BEAM on early years maths and collaborated with Michael Jones as co-author of Let’s Talk About Maths
Helen Mohatta
Associate SEND Consultant
Helen is a highly knowledgeable and experienced Early Years SEND consultant and trainer. With twenty years’ experience, she taught across the 2-7 age range, before moving into advisory roles and progressing onto Lead Advisory Teacher. Before joining Early Excellence as an associate SEND consultant, Helen worked for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council as a School Effectiveness Officer for SEND, where she offered a range of support to settings and schools, to improve quality and outcomes for children with SEND. Helen’s passion and expertise lies in developing and delivering high quality CPD, alongside coaching teachers and leaders in areas such as adaptive teaching, bespoke curriculum design, use of assessment, and adapting the environment to meet the needs of all children, including those with SEND.