Inspiring Early Learning

Join award-winning educators for a day of informative talks, practical workshops, discussions and networking opportunities. Refreshments, lunch, delegate pack and choice of two workshops included in the price.

This event is designed for Early Years or Early Childhood Education & Care professionals and students and anyone with an interest in young children's development and learning.

Doors open at 9am and the conferences ends at 4pm on Saturday 29 March 2025. The event is being held at Sheffield Hallam University's conference centre - The Charles Street Building - which is just a short walk from Sheffield's town centre and railway station.

The programme offers a mix of speeches, workshops, a question panel, and time to chat, network and reflect.

Hear from three highly respected speakers (more information below):

• Professor Dame Cathy Nutbrown, University of Sheffield, President of Early Education
• Dr Stella Louis, Director of Froebel Trust Short Courses, author and trainer
• Jane Whinnett, University of Edinburgh tutor and Froebel Trust Endorsed Travelling Tutor

Take part in two 75-minute workshops led by Endorsed Travelling Tutors. Choose from:

You will be asked to choose your preferred workshops when you book your ticket. Please note, we will do our best to meet your request for your preferred choices but cannot guarantee it.

Ask our panel of speakers and tutors your questions about Early Years education, Froebelian principles, and young children's learning and development.

Visit our stands and network with like-minded educators.

09:00 Doors open for registration and refreshments

09:30 Morning speeches by Cathy Nutbrown & Stella Louis

10:50 Morning break with refreshments

11:20 First workshops session

12:35 Buffet lunch

13:20 Second workshops session

14:40 Afternoon speech by Jane Whinnett and Q&A panel with tutors

16:00 Conference ends

Cathy Nutbrown is a Professor of Education at the University of Sheffield, and President of Early Education, UK. Her research has included a focus on family literacy, early childhood pedagogy, and children’s rights. She chaired the Nutbrown Review of Early Education and Childcare Qualifications in 2012 and was awarded a Damehood for Services to Early Childhood Education in 2003. Author of many publications her latest book is Children Making Meaning: Exploring Drawings, Narratives, and Identities [Deguara and Nutbrown 2024, Routledge].

Cathy's keynote speech: "Children making meaning: Towards a drawing pedagogy".

In this talk Cathy will consider drawing as a meaningful form of communication for young children. With rich examples, she will show that what and how children draw is often informed by their everyday experiences, thinking processes, imaginations, emotions, and understandings. Cathy will explore relationships between drawing and talk, and how children’s ongoing drawing narratives help them to create and adapt their meanings as they draw. In discussing children’s culturally informed funds of knowledge, Cathy will argue that drawing pedagogy can help educators and parents, to engage in deeply meaningful interactions with children which affirm their unique identities and enhance moments of learning.

Stella Louis is Director of Froebel Trust Courses and leads a team of more than 20 Froebelian Travelling Tutors. In 2023, her work was recognised by Nursery World with the award for Best Trainer and a Lifetime Achievement award. Stella originally trained as a NNEB nursery nurse and has thirty years’ experience of working with children and families. More recently, she has been involved in training educators and is particularly interested in observation and its part in supporting learning, development and teaching. Stella has a PhD in Education from Roehampton and is the author of many books & articles including her latest publication, Let's Talk About Race in the Early Years [Louis and Betteridge 2024, Routledge].

Stella's keynote speech: "Play Coordinates All Learning".

Stella will explore how play helps babies and young children to understand and make sense of what they have been learning in ideas, feeling, relationships and to realise what they know and understand, and to make connections. Froebel observed the importance of play in early childhood development. He understood that children learn things through their senses, movements and their interactions with the environment, people in their families, and community. In order for children to use what they have seen or heard they have to make it part of themselves.They also have to put it together and understand it in some way. That's why they need play to coordinate their learning.

Jane Whinnett is a member of the Froebel Trust's Education & Research Committee and a former trustee. She was previously the head teacher of two Edinburgh Nursery Schools and now tutors at the University of Edinburgh where she contributes to the Froebel in Childhood Practice course. Jane teaches the Froebel Trust's Short Courses and Online Course as an experienced Froebelian Travelling Tutor. In 2019, Jane received an MBE from HM Queen Elizabeth II for services to early education. She and her co-authors were also awarded the 2021 Nursery World Professional Book Award for Putting Storytelling at the Heart of Early Childhood Practice [Bruce, McNair and Whinnett Eds. 2020, Routledge]

Jane's keynote speech: "A Froebelian Path in Bewildering Times" .

In her talk, Jane will consider how educators can feel confused and overwhelmed by competing messages and approaches, but she will show how Froebelian principles provide a compass to navigate a clear path for all of our children.

The ticket price includes breakfast pastries and lunch. Please ensure you add any dietary requirements to the booking form.

We know everyone's accessibility needs are different, which is why having detailed, accurate information is so important. On the ticketing page, we will ask you about access requirements.

To find out more about the venue, please visit:

https://www.accessable.co.uk/sheffield-hallam-university/access-guides/charles-street-building

The Froebel Trust is a registered charity that funds research and practice development in early childhood learning. Charity Number 1145128.

Visit our website: https://www.froebel.org.uk

If you have questions about this event, you can email us on [email protected]

Host or Publisher The Froebel Trust