Sponsored by TTS & Consortium, and Early Excellence, the show brought together a rich selection of exhibitors showcasing their work and resources to delegates and offering immersive demonstrations of their services. The show also saw numerous seminars, a live theatre, panel discussions and masterclasses that ran each day.
The exhibitor floor was busy and colourful, showcasing some early years specialist providers. There were play materials, delicious home-cooked food for nurseries, books, and materials to support learning as well as a whole host of information and discounts available to delegates.
The live theatre, which was free to attend, provided a series of half hour talks from a range of professionals. There was a notable buzz around these sessions, with big crowds being drawn in for talks by Rachel Carrell who presented on ‘how childcare workers are doubling their salary’ as well as Hayley Yendell’s session on ‘getting the best out of your outdoor space’.
A host of industry experts spoke in seminars throughout the day, offering a wealth of insight into different aspects of the sector. Dr Shaddai Tembo’s presentation encouraged delegates to consider the place of men in early years which sparked an interesting discussions about the perceptions of gender within settings.
He spoke about the ‘moral panic created by the media’ in response to the promotion of men in positions of childcare.
Ofsted’s Phil Minns also spoke about the importance and permanence of a child’s early education and shared his experiences, from on the ground inspections, of both best practice as well as the most common mistakes made by settings. This discussion was particularly topical following the recent launch of the ‘Shaping Us’ campaign which aims to promote the critical imporance of the first five years of a child’s life.
Also running throughout the day was the Best Practice Forum, which gave all visitors the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and receive advice from industry sector leaders and policy advisors.
The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, the Early Years Alliance and Nursery World provided a space to share concerns and offer guidance on how best to build brighter futures for children and their families.
In her seminar, Kate Peach from EachPeach spoke to delegates about supporting happiness and wellbeing. She told the room that many of her staff have told her how they ‘don’t know how to live in the moment’ and find themselves ‘caught between looking backwards with regret and looking forwards with worry’.
To remedy this anxiety, Kate encourages the enjoyment of ‘mindful moments’ to tap into the peace that can still be found during busy times.
A sense of community was felt throughout the two days, with a great appreciation for the chance to connect with professionals from across the sector, offer new perspective and share in both the struggles and successes of early years education and childcare.
- Don't miss out on next year's show. You can register for Nursery World Show 2024 here