Strong Foundations, Lasting Success: Securing Essential Knowledge and Skills in the Early Years
Foundations First: Leading Excellence in the Early Years brings together leading experts and practitioners for a rich day of professional learning, reflection and inspiration.
Dates & Locations
Tuesday 10th November 2026
The Village Hotel Manchester Bury, BL9 7BQ
Thursday 12th November
DoubleTree by Hilton, Nottingham, NG8 6AZ
Wednesday 18th November
Felbridge Gatwick Hotel & Spa, Felbridge, RH19 2BH
- Arrive: 9:00 am
- Conference starts: 9:30 am
- Conference closes: 4:00 pm
Price
£145.00 (exc. VAT) per person
Free parking at all venues. Lunch and refreshments are provided.
Keynote Speaker
Anna Caulfield
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 driven school improvement and managed strategic change, with a passion for leading in curriculum development.
Her expertise spans strategic planning and leadership development, underpinned by a strong academic foundation in education.
Workshop Sessions
Every delegate will participate in three interactive workshops.
The overarching message throughout these workshops is that the environment is not simply where learning happens. It is a teaching tool that enables adults to teach foundational knowledge, concepts, language, and learning behaviours, through rich, purposeful provision.
Effective Early Years practice begins with understanding children as capable, curious learners. High-quality outcomes emerge when:
- Children engage in rich experiences within enabling environments.
- Adults understand how children learn through play, exploration and sustained engagement.
- Practitioners intentionally extend learning through skilful interactions.
Together these create a pedagogical approach that develops children’s knowledge, skills, dispositions and executive function, laying the foundations for lifelong learning.
Individual workshop details can be found below.
Conference Agenda
| 9:00 AM | Arrival, registration, coffee & pastries |
| 9:30 AM | Welcome Phil Armstrong/Sarah Carey |
| 10:00 AM | Keynote 1 Anna Caulfield |
| 10:45 AM | Coffee break |
| 11:15 AM | Workshop Session 1 |
| 12:00 PM | Workshop Session 2 |
| 12:45 PM | Lunch |
| 1:45 PM | Keynote 2 Guest Speaker from local MAT |
| 2:30 PM | Workshop Session 3 |
| 3:15 PM | Coffee & cake |
| 3:30 PM | Panel discussion |
| 4:00 PM | Close |
Workshops
Workshop 1
The Child’s Curriculum – Seeing Learning Through the Child’s Eyes
What does learning look like from a child’s perspective? This workshop explores how children build foundational knowledge, skills and understanding through play, curiosity and meaningful experiences. We will consider how high-quality provision creates opportunities for language development, independence and exploration, ensuring children develop the secure foundations needed for future learning and success across the curriculum.
Workshop 2
The Learning Behind the Learning – Characteristics of Effective Learning and Executive Function
Alongside developing knowledge and understanding, children are building the learning behaviours and thinking skills that support future achievement. This workshop explores the Characteristics of Effective Learning alongside executive function; helping practitioners recognise how resilience, self-regulation, attention, flexibility and problem-solving form the foundations for successful learning. We will reflect on how observation can capture not only what children learn, but how they develop the dispositions and habits that enable them to thrive.
Workshop 3
The Adult Curriculum – Intentional Interactions that Extend Learning
Skilful adult interactions are at the heart of effective Early Years practice. This workshop explores how practitioners intentionally develop children’s foundational knowledge, language, concepts and learning behaviours through high-quality interactions and a carefully curated curriculum. Together, we will consider how questioning, sustained shared thinking and teaching within provision can deepen understanding and help children build the essential foundations for lifelong learning.
Afternoon Keynote Speakers
Sophie Chaloner
Deputy Headteacher & Early Years Lead
Wilbury Primary School
Sophie is an experienced senior leader specialising in school-based Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Her roles include EYFS Lead for Children First Academy Trust, Early Years Advisor for Enfield Local Authority, and Improvement Partner for Haringey Education Partnership.
Sophie has a proven track record in school improvement, successfully supporting three Trust schools to achieve Ofsted “Outstanding” judgements for their EYFS provision. She is currently contributing to the DfEs RISE initiative to develop Reception practice across London schools – focusing on raising the Good Level of Development (GLD) while protecting an authentic early years ethos.
Her distinct approach balances the very best of early years pedagogy with a sharp focus on building strong foundational skills, keeping language development at its heart.
Brogan Taylor
Early Years Leader
Learners’ Trust
Brogan is a passionate and ambitious Early Years educator and leader with a proven track record of driving school improvement, curriculum development, and language-focused practice at a trust and DFE level. She is experienced in leading high-quality Early Years provision, supporting schools through improvement journeys and influencing practice across the East Midlands. Brogan is also currently undertaking the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).
Recognised as an Early Years language and English specialist with the Whiston Worrygoose English Hub, Brogan regularly delivers professional development, hosts school visits, and presents to educators through regional networks and national platforms. She is instrumental in developing an outstanding Early Years curriculum that has been showcased to schools across the region and adopted as part of the Universal RISE offer.
Anna Hackett
Curriculum and Professional Learning Lead
Focus-Trust
Anna works across schools to support curriculum, assessment and professional learning. She began her career as a 1:1 SEND Support Assistant in a secondary school before moving into primary teaching, English leadership and senior leadership.
Alongside her trust role, Anna is a member of the National Literacy Trust Education Advisory Board and an Associate Trainer for the National Literacy Trust. She has a longstanding interest in literacy, intelligent use of assessment and professional learning.
Anna is particularly interested in how we create the conditions for teachers and leaders to think, learn and make sense of practice together, and how professional learning translates into meaningful change for children.
Key Takeaways
- Clear perspective on creating a curriculum rooted in best practice and driven by Foundational Knowledge.
- Fresh inspiration for strengthening curriculum, provision and practice.
- Practical ideas to support immediate improvement back in school.
- A clearer understanding of what high-quality Early Years learning looks like.
- Greater confidence to lead change and support colleagues.
- Renewed energy and ambition to champion excellence in the Early Years.
Audience
This conference is ideal for leaders and practitioners who are committed to strengthening curriculum, developing provision and building shared confidence across their teams.
- Headteachers and senior leaders with responsibility for EYFS
- EYFS Leaders, Phase Leaders and Curriculum Leaders
- Nursery and Reception teachers
- Leaders working to strengthen transition into Key Stage 1