Jo Gray

Early Education Associate

Jo has two decades of teaching and school leadership, initially as a class teacher, then a school leader, followed by Head of Education for over a decade. In her role as an independent education consultant, she has worked with schools, trusts, Local Authorities, and PVIs across the North West and beyond delivering support in leadership, curriculum, literacy, and play. Her biggest passion is exploring play and how the curriculum can be delivered through playful pedagogical approaches. Her MA in Educational Leadership focused on this and she has delivered training and keynote presentations on play for the Chartered College of Teaching, LAs, schools and a range of trusts. She is a qualified coach, holds an NPQH and values working alongside leaders to ensure their unique vision is brought to life, fusing strategic and operational approaches together. Jo is an author, a school governor, and a proud mummy to two neurodivergent boys - this is something which fuels Jo's core values and vision of supporting all children and staff to find joy in the everyday and ensure children, childhood, and their future is put first.

Areas of expertise

EYFS

The power of play
Introduction to EYFS
Developing inspiring curriculums
Early reading and writing
Enabling environments
Role of the adult

Transition beyond EYFS

Strong foundations in the first years of school
Transition into KS1
Play beyond EYFS
Playful Schools Toolkit

Leadership of EYFS

Effective leadership of EYFS
Understanding EYFS for Subject Leaders
Quality Assurance
Leadership support and development

Sample courses

The role of the adult: pause, ponder, play!
Crafting your EYFS curriculum: awe, magic, and inspiration
Designing enabling environments for all
Exploring the magic of early literacy in EYFS
Building the EYFS curriculum: a guide for subject leads
An introduction to the wonder of early years
Leading EYFS across the school: a vision for school leaders
What about KS1? Bridging the gap between EYFS and KS1

The role of the adult: pause, ponder, play! – delivered by Jo Gray

Course Aims:

To explore the crucial role of the adult in the EYFS setting in fostering curiosity, creativity, and emotional development.
To examine the importance of reflective practice in interactions with children and how moments of pause can encourage deeper thinking.
To introduce strategies for incorporating playful interactions into everyday learning.
To consider how adults can scaffold learning through questioning, observation, and purposeful planning to support children’s natural development.

Overall Outcome: By the end of the course, practitioners will understand how to enhance their role as facilitators of learning, creating an environment where their reflective, thoughtful, and playful approach supports children’s holistic development, in line with statutory requirements of the EYFS.

Audience: Nursery and Reception Practitioners, Curriculum Leads, SLT. It can also be adapted for PVI settings.

Delivery: The half-day training can be delivered online or face-to-face. This session can be run in a series alongside other half day courses.

Crafting your EYFS curriculum: awe, magic, and inspiration – delivered by Jo Gray

This course aims to:

inspire early years educators to design a curriculum that sparks curiosity, fosters creativity, and nurtures the natural sense of wonder in young children.
explore how to create a curriculum which is rich in imaginative play, exploration, and discovery, where every lesson feels like a magical journey.
provide practical strategies for curriculum design alongside a deep understanding of developmental theory.
encourage educators to explore how to build awe-inspiring learning experiences that are grounded in the aims of the EYFS framework and the characteristics of effective learning.

Overall Outcome: By the end of the course, educators will have the tools and inspiration to build a curriculum that nurtures every child’s innate sense of awe and helps them develop a lifelong love of learning.

Audience: Nursery and Reception Practitioners, Curriculum Leads, SLT. It can also be adapted for PVI settings.

Delivery: The half-day training can be delivered online or face-to-face. This session can be run in a series alongside other half day courses.

Designing enabling environments for all – delivered by Jo Gray

Course Aims:

To explore the importance of creating environments that inspire, engage, and challenge children’s learning.
To understand the concept of ‘enabling environments’ and how it aligns with the EYFS principles.
To investigate how the physical, emotional, and social environment can be designed to support children’s exploration and development.
To provide strategies for practitioners to reflect upon and adapt their environments to ensure they are responsive to children’s needs.

Overall Outcome: By the end of the course, practitioners will have the knowledge and practical tools to design and continuously improve the environment in their EYFS settings, ensuring it provides rich, diverse opportunities for learning.

Audience: Nursery and Reception Practitioners, EYFS Leads, SLT, PVI settings.

Delivery: This half-day training can be delivered online or face-to-face. This session can be run in a series alongside other half day courses.

Exploring the magic of early literacy in EYFS – delivered by Jo Gray

Course Aims:

To inspire educators to foster a love of literacy in the early years through creative and immersive experiences.
To explore the connections between spoken language, reading, and writing in the EYFS framework.
To investigate strategies for creating engaging literacy-rich environments that support early reading and writing development.
To examine practical approaches for supporting children’s phonological awareness, vocabulary development, and early writing skills.

Overall Outcome: By the end of the course, educators will be confident in designing magical and inspiring literacy opportunities that spark children’s imaginations and set them on the path to becoming lifelong readers and writers.

Audience: Nursery and Reception Practitioners, Literacy Leads, Curriculum Leads, SLT. Can be adapted for PVIs.

Delivery: This half day training can be delivered online or face-to-face. This session can be run in a series alongside other half day courses.

Building the EYFS curriculum: a guide for subject leads – delivered by Jo Gray

Course Aims:

To provide subject leaders with a deeper understanding of how the EYFS curriculum aligns with key areas of learning and development.
To support subject leaders in interpreting the framework in ways that can be applied to specific subject areas.
To explore how to develop a cohesive curriculum that supports the diverse needs of children while maintaining high standards across all areas of learning.
To encourage reflective practice and strategic planning to ensure the EYFS curriculum supports children’s learning outcomes.

Overall Outcome: Subject leaders will leave the course equipped with the knowledge to lead and support their teams in delivering a comprehensive, well-rounded curriculum that enhances children’s learning and development in line with the EYFS framework.

Audience: Subject Leaders, Curriculum Leads, SLT in primary schools

Delivery: The half-day training can be delivered online or face-to-face. It can also be made bespoke to a certain subject or area of learning.

It may be worth considering subject leads completing ‘An introduction to the wonder of early years’ first, depending on their experience of EYFS.

An introduction to the wonder of early years – delivered by Jo Gray

Course Aims:

To provide a foundational understanding of the EYFS framework and its importance for children’s early development.
To explore the key principles and learning areas outlined in the EYFS.
To support educators in translating EYFS requirements into everyday practice with confidence.
To focus on the characteristics of effective learning.
To explore assessment in the early years.
To consider the statutory requirements in relation to transition into KS1.

Overall Outcome: By the end of the course, participants will have a clear understanding of the EYFS framework and how to apply it to support young children’s development in practical, engaging, and meaningful ways.

Audience: New to EYFS Practitioners, Teaching Assistants, Y1 teachers and School Leaders

Delivery: This full day training can be delivered online or face-to-face.

Leading EYFS across the school: a vision for school leaders – delivered by Jo Gray

Course Aims:

To equip school leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead effective EYFS provision within the wider school context.
To explore how to create a school-wide vision that reflects the values and aims of the EYFS framework.
To investigate the importance of collaborative leadership and team building within EYFS settings.
To focus on how school leaders can support practitioners in delivering high-quality learning experiences and meeting statutory requirements.

Overall Outcome: By the end of the course, school leaders will have the tools to shape a high-quality EYFS provision within their schools, ensuring that the learning environment nurtures curiosity, creativity, and emotional development, while fulfilling the needs of the EYFS framework.

Audience: Headteachers, EYFS Leads, SLT, School Governors.

Delivery: This full day training can be delivered online or face-to-face.

What about KS1? Bridging the gap between EYFS and KS1 – delivered by Jo Gray

Course Aims:

To explore the key transitions from EYFS to Key Stage 1 and how practitioners can support continuity in children’s learning.
To examine the similarities and differences between the two stages and how they can be used to inform practice.
To discuss strategies for fostering a smooth transition that builds upon the foundation laid in EYFS, ensuring children are ready for the challenges of KS1.
To consider how educators can collaborate across EYFS and KS1 to ensure a cohesive approach to learning and development.
To explore child development theories and research for KS1 to adopt principles from EYFS

Overall Outcome: By the end of the course, educators will have a deeper understanding of the EYFS to KS1 transition, equipping them with practical strategies to ensure that children continue to thrive as they move into the next phase of their learning journey.

Audience: EYFS and KS1 Practitioners, Transition Leads, Curriculum Leads, SLT.

Delivery: This full day training can be delivered online or face-to-face.

Sample programme

The Playful Schools Toolkit: embedding playful practice beyond EYFS
Session 1: Creating a shared vision for play
Session 2: Playful pedagogy in practice
Session 3: Environments that inspire learning
Session 4: The role of the adult
Session 5: Outdoor play as an extension of learning
Session 6: Leading sustainable change

The Playful Schools Toolkit: embedding playful practice beyond EYFS – delivered by Jo Gray

Programme Aims:

To support school leaders and practitioners in developing a shared vision for play and playful learning that reflects their unique context and values.
To explore the principles of playful pedagogy and how these can enhance engagement, motivation, wellbeing, and learning outcomes.
To investigate how environments, both indoors and outdoors, can be designed to inspire curiosity, independence, collaboration, and creativity.
To develop a deeper understanding of the role of the adult in facilitating, extending, and enriching children’s learning through play.
To examine practical approaches to outdoor learning and the opportunities it provides for holistic development.
To support leaders in creating sustainable and meaningful change through strategic planning, implementation, and professional development.

Overall outcome:

The Playful Schools Toolkit is a six-session whole-school development programme designed to help schools, trusts or settings create a culture where curiosity, playfulness, engagement, and high-quality learning flourish. Rooted in child development and early years principles, the programme supports leaders and practitioners to embed sustainable, developmentally appropriate practice from EYFS and beyond.

By the end of the programme, participants will have the knowledge, practical tools, and strategic understanding to develop a culture of playful learning within and across their whole trust, setting or school. They will be equipped to create engaging environments, strengthen adult practice, and lead sustainable improvements that place children’s development, wellbeing, and curiosity at the heart of their provision.

Audience: Headteachers, Senior Leaders, Curriculum Leads, Trust Leaders, and PVI Leaders.

Delivery: The programme consists of six half-day sessions which can be delivered online or face-to-face. Sessions may be delivered individually or as part of a bespoke school improvement programme.

Further details on each session are available below.

Session 1: Creating a shared vision for play

This session aims to:

Explore current research and evidence regarding the importance of play in children’s development and learning.
Develop a shared understanding of what play and playful learning mean within a school’s context.
Consider how play aligns with school values, curriculum intent, and children’s developmental needs.
Support leaders in articulating and communicating a clear vision for playful practice.

Outcome: Participants will develop a clear rationale and shared language for play that can inform strategic decision-making, curriculum development, and everyday practice.