Return of NDNA’s Annual Conference

Educational recovery and excellence in early years practice will be the top priorities as National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA)’s annual national nursery conference returns in 2022 following an enforced two year absence.

To reflect the sector’s great commitment to children and families, and their efforts to rebuild recovery following the most difficult years of the pandemic, the theme for this year’s conference is Recovery Starts with Early Years.  

To maximise the support to the sector at a time that has seen nurseries face unprecedented pressures, NDNA has reduced the ticket prices so both leaders and practitioners can improve their practice and be more informed at an affordable rate. Our early bird offer is available until the end of April 2022 with 20% off for both leaders and practitioners. 

To celebrate the return, NDNA has booked a range of brilliant speakers to excite, inspire and inform delegates.

We are very pleased to announce that Musharaf Asghar, who first appeared in the TV series ‘Educating Yorkshire’ and delighted the nation with his powerful journey through school while overcoming his stammer, will be speaking about his own experiences in education, the role educators play in the life of a young child and the importance of resilience.

Award-winning international producer, writer, speaker, consultant and creator of CBeebies’ JoJo and Gran Gran, Laura Henry-Allain MBE, will be discussing equality in the educational setting, in line with her new bestselling book ‘My Skin, Your Skin’.

For delegates of the Leadership Stream, Ofsted representatives, Gill Jones, Deputy Director for Early Education Policy, and Lisa Pascoe, Deputy Director, will be discussing the impact of the new Ofsted Inspection Framework and host an audience Q&A.

In addition, Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, will speak about the importance of early years and early education. She will also discuss her ongoing work engaging directly with children about their lives and what she found in the largest survey of children ever undertaken, the Big Ask. The survey was all about the things that affect them and how she approaches speaking up on their and their families’ behalf.

Harry Gration MBE, veteran TV presenter and BBC Look North icon will chair the main conference, alongside Donna Sheldon, an NDNA Associate since 2002 and 20 year devotee to the early years sector, will chair the Practice Stream.

Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of NDNA who will be providing an update on NDNA’s work championing early years, said: “After the disruption that we have seen over the past few years, we are delighted and excited that the conference is now able to return. The whole sector has done so much for children at a difficult time so we can’t wait to bring our conference back and network with all of you.

“We all know just how crucial children’s early years are, and how they have been affected by the pandemic. That’s why our focus is on recovery at this crucial time of a child’s development. The breadth of speakers and the passion that they share for early years are sure to make this year’s conference something truly special.

“We are really excited to bring people back together to celebrate the work you’re all doing while supporting the high quality provision that nurseries provide for their children. We’ve missed the opportunity to bring providers together from all over the country.

“For practitioners we have put together some inspiring practical sessions. We hope people will have plenty to take away from this year’s event.

“We are hard at work making the final arrangements and look forward to welcoming everyone to Chesford Grange in June.”

NDNA’s hugely popular nursery awards ceremony and dinner will take place on the evening of the conference. Judges will scrutinise quality entries from all around the globe, with the winners to be announced during the evening, culminating with the coveted Nursery of the Year title.

Find out more about the conference and awards, including prices, at www.ndna.org.uk/conference and www.ndna.org.uk/awards

To book a place, follow the link here.

 

Cover photo By macniak on Canva