Upcoming Briefings:
Early Autumn Briefing 2026
Thursday 24th Sept 2026 | 1pm – 3pm
Late Autumn Briefing 2026
Thursday 26th Nov 2026 | 1pm – 3pm
( Booking available from October )
£85.00 (exc. VAT) per person
Our Senior Leader Briefings
Our Senior Leader Briefings take place throughout the year and are designed to help school and setting leaders stay up to date with national developments affecting Early Years and Key Stage 1.
Strategic Leadership: Setting Direction, Strengthening Practice
A new academic year brings fresh priorities, and the focus on Early Years and Key Stage 1 from the DfE and Ofsted shows no sign of slowing. Our Autumn Senior Leader Briefing helps you start the year clear on what’s changing and confident in how to respond.
We’ll work through the latest national updates and what they mean for leadership and classroom practice, from the continued spotlight on the Reception year to the implications of recent policy and inspection developments. As always, we’ll translate the guidance into practical, strategic next steps for you and your team.
Designed for Senior Leaders, MAT and Trust colleagues, and Local Authority advisers, these sessions give you the clarity and direction to plan ahead with confidence.
Hosted by our Senior Curriculum Experts
Hosted by Phil Armstrong (Senior Education Lead) and Sarah Carey (School Improvement Lead), with guest speakers from Ofsted, the DfE, and other sector experts.
Phil Armstrong – Senior Education Lead
Phil has 20+ years’ experience across early years and primary education, including teaching, leadership, and headship roles. He supports schools and settings with strategic leadership, school improvement, and national policy implementation.
Sarah Carey – School Improvement Lead
Sarah brings over 20 years’ school improvement experience, including EYFS Leader, Deputy Head, and Headteacher roles. She helps senior leaders drive improvement priorities in EYFS and KS1 through strategic planning, teaching development, and sustained school improvement.
Why order the recording?
- Stay up to date with national policy and inspection developments
- Gain clarity on expectations for Early Years and KS1
- Access strategic insight to support leadership decision-making
- Connect with wider sector thinking and professional dialogue
Who should order the recording?
- Senior Leaders in schools and settings
- MAT or Trust leaders
- Local Authority advisers and coordinators
- Anyone supporting strategic leadership or operational planning in Early Years and KS1
The spotlight from the DfE and Ofsted on the Reception Year continues to shine brightly. We explored the latest DfE guidance, expectations on school leadership and reviewed the range of supporting materials and services available to schools.
Recently we have seen the publication of guidance from DfE on the use of digital technology in the Early Years. During this briefing we considered the implications this has on leadership, classroom practice and working with parents.
We also reflected on assessment and transition; unpicked the latest guidance on the EYFS profile and its use to support transition to Year One; plus we took a closer look at the Kindred Squared Report on Transition into Reception and the impact on teaching and learning.
As always, examples of the latest research were provided and guidance to strengthen leadership and practice in the Early Years and Key Stage One. We unpacked the details and provided clear strategic guidance for you to ensure that you and your team are fully informed.
Previous Briefing:
Tuesday 9th June 2026