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The Child
in Mind 

 

Exploring the Relationship between Early Years Neuroscience and Practice

An online conference to explore new ideas and connect with experts who put every child’s mind first

Unlock the wonders of young brains!

From birth to age five, children’s brains grow faster than at any other time in life. By connecting neuroscience with real-world practice, we can nurture curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning from the very start.

Join leading experts for an inspiring online conference exploring early years neuroscience, the power of play, and practical strategies to support every child’s growth, curiosity, and learning journey.

Hear from Prof. Sam Wass, Ben Kingston-Hughes, and Helen Mohatta – leading voices in early years brain development, play, and SEND.

Date & Time

Thursday 5th February
9:30am – 3:30pm

Price

£150.00 (exc. VAT) per person

What You Will Gain

  • Deepen your expertise with the latest insights from neuroscience on how young brains grow and learn
  • Strengthen your practice by translating complex research into everyday strategies that work in real classrooms and settings
  • Recognise the power of play and its vital role in healthy brain development
  • Gain inspiration from leading voices: Professor Sam Wass, Ben Kingston-Hughes, and Helen Mohatta, who bring a wealth of knowledge and practical experience
  • Reflect on inclusion and wellbeing, considering how provision can truly support every child, whatever their needs
  • Leave with renewed confidence to shape environments that nurture curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning from the very start



Bridging the gap between cutting-edge neuroscience and everyday educational practice can be challenging. That’s why this unique online conference has been specially designed – to help you translate the latest research into practical strategies and reflect on the vital role of play in early development.

Join us on an inspiring journey into the fascinating world of early years neuroscience, guided by expert speakers who will reveal how we can truly keep every child in mind when shaping our provision and practice.

Workshops & Key Sessions

Prof. Sam Wass

What we’re learning about how young children’s brains develop

In this session, we will cover recent findings from neuroscience about how young brains develop and how these changes mean that children process environments differently from adults. In particular, we will explore why young brains learn best in environments that are slow-paced, consistent, predictable, and pared-down, and discuss how early years practice can be adapted accordingly. Together, we will consider both the physical environment — how we design and decorate spaces — and the human environment — how we interact with children.

Ben Kingston-Hughes

Playful Brains – The Neuroscience of Play

In this transformative session, we will explore what happens in children’s brains when they play and show how understanding how the brain works enables us to support children to experience the most powerful play opportunities. We will highlight the vital role of play in developing and growing children’s brains, emphasising its profound importance for brain growth, wellbeing, and even life expectancy. This session will be entertaining, thought-provoking, and designed to help us build the brains of the future.

Helen Mohatta

Connection, curiosity and cognition

Through this session, we will explore how cognitive development in young children builds progressively through attention, thinking, problem-solving, remembering, and making connections. In the early years, this may involve learning what happens when a child repeats an action, pushes a button, or makes a sound. We will consider practical ways to inspire joint attention through connection, play, and interaction; we will look at how to encourage spontaneous communication, create engaging environments, and embed social communication opportunities within early years practice and provision.

Conference Agenda

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM Start & Welcome
9:45 AM – 11:45 AM Prof. Sam Wass
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM Reflections
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Lunch
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM Ben Kingston-Hughes
2:15 PM – 2:25 PM Comfort Break
2:25 PM – 3:25 PM Helen Mohatta
3:25 PM – 3:30 PM Closing Remarks

Workshop Hosts

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