Who we are

Nicola is a freelance consultant. She previously worked in Bristol as LA Early Years Lead, leading on strategy and Early Years quality improvement through a model of system leadership.  She worked as part of a cross-phase leadership team within the Directorate to secure rich, high quality experiences, continuity and progression for all learners, and seamless transitions for children and families.

Nicola has experience of primary headship and senior educational consultancy at local, regional, national and international levels. She is passionate about research and the innovation of educational programmes through peer collaboration and practitioner-led research. Nicola works closely with National Teaching Schools to support the leadership of research and to capture the creativity, richness and impact of teacher and practitioner-led enquiry.

Nicola has extensive experience of leading programmes to support children’s communication, language and literacy. This includes regional consultancy and the design and delivery of training the trainer modules to embed core methodologies to improve oracy and writing across the EYFS and primary curriculum.  Further work relating to speech, language and communication in Bristol has included partnership working with health to review Early Years’ provision for of speech, language and communication to establish an integrated approach. 

Nicola has experience of organisational development and is currently co-leading a transformation programme to remodel Bristol’s maintained Nursery Schools to secure future sustainability. This work recognises the strengths of current provision and is progressing through a model of co-construction with headteachers and cross-service partners. The redefinition of roles and leadership responsibilities across Bristol’s Early Years landscape is a key aspect of this work.

Tim began his working life as a qualified teacher working in the EY’s through KS3 in both the maintained and private sector. He began working in the childcare and early education PVI sector over ten years ago and has led a variety of settings across the country striving to offer the best experience and outcomes for children and their families. Tim contributes to many local Early Years reference groups, and he sits on Schools Forum for a local authority. He was part of the Birth to 5 Matters project and its post publication activities. He looks forward to supporting Early Education as a trustee.  

Chris is an experienced Chartered Accountant with 15 years’ experience working within audit and risk management across a variety of large financial services institutions.  He is currently responsible for the design and imlementation of the Enterprise Risk Management Franework across a FTSE 100 group.

He is also father to two young girls and this has reinforced to him the importance of early years education.

Vicky is Associate Professor of Education and Associate Dean for Education and Student Experience at the University of Plymouth. Her career began in Early Years practice, supporting childminders, preschools and nurseries across Devon, before moving into consultancy roles leading quality improvement, professional development and research. She has since developed a national profile in Early Childhood Education, inclusion and SEND through published research, sector contributions, and policy advisory work, including involvement in Birth to 5 Matters and Department for Education consultations. Vicky chairs regional and national SEND networks and leads collaborative initiatives to strengthen workforce development and practitioner professionalism. She brings extensive operational, strategic and research expertise to her role as Chair of the Board of Trustees and is committed to championing high‑quality early education for all children.

Clio is the National Director of Early Years and Early Reading for E-ACT. Having worked in the education sector for 14 years she has held a variety of roles from teaching positions to EYFS lead, Assistant Headteacher, DSL and Lead Practitioner. She has held roles in both the private and public sector, working with both local authorities and trusts. Clio contributes to Tes, CST magazine and Substack on Early Years and SEND issues and is a regular conference speaker. She has spent her career deeply engaging with theory and applying this to practice to have outstanding impact. Originally this impact was at class level, to school level, trust level and now national scale. She works with Myatt & Co on an “Early Years Curriculum For All” and is an EYFS expert for Whole Education.

In her personal time Clío is a volunteer and ambassador for Young Lives Vs Cancer, speaking at events, helping raise money and awareness for the charity. She also works closely with the global charity Gifting Goals to travel to Africa to bring much needed resources and aid in early education. She is passionate about supporting the growth and development of all young people, and giving them the best possible start to life.

Nicola has worked in early years for over 30 years, starting her academic career with my NNEB, working in both the maintained sector and volunteering with a range of early childhood focused charities. She then went on to become a workplace Assessor.  Taking advantage of the opportunity to undertake a degree, she completed a BA (hons) in Early Childhood and gained EYTS in her 40s, and then an MA in Education when she was 50. She has now enrolled to do a PhD in Social Policy, looking at how government rhetoric and policy impacts on how the early years profession views their role.  Nearly 10 years ago she started lecturing on the Early Childhood courses, and continues to support students in a mentoring role, once they have graduated.   Her focus is on ensuring the qualifications and standard of care and education offered, to implement a play-based curriculum that benefits all children in their formative years.  With this in mind she has started freelance writing, to advocate for children and early years staff. 

Elaina has been Childminding for nine years. She believes that every child should have a great start to their early years because this underpins children’s entire future life chances.

Hers is a family run business and her husband and daughter work full-time, alongside her. She believes that men are under-represented in Early Years and this should be addressed, she is constantly promoting the fabulous benefits that men can bring to early years. She has high aspirations for local children in her area and has been twice awarded outstanding (in 2016 and 2020) by Ofsted. 

She is passionate about early years and her own pedagogy is the Curiosity Approach.  She has been the Chairperson of Upton St Leonard’s Preschool as a voluntary position for two years.

In Gloucestershire, she is the local spokesperson and advocate between childminders and the Council.

She has completed a degree in Early Years at the Gloucestershire University.  

Julia has worked in early years education for twenty-five years.  Now a nursery school principal, she has also worked in a range of educational settings.  Her career begun in foundation stage in inner city Leicester and Nottingham.  In 2007 she relocated to Northern Ireland where she moved into curriculum advisory and school development within early years.

In 2010 she returned to school to a teaching principal role within a nursery school and has also actively forged professional networks amongst educational professionals and been dedicated to developing early years pedagogy. 

After 16 years as a nursery principal, Julia is now in a seconded role, working as an Education Partner for the Controlled Schools Unit within the Education Authority EANI,  supporting nursery and primary principals. 

Myra has worked in the early years sector for over thirty years in many different capacities, Social Work setting, Childminder, Playgroup manager, practitioner in local authority and currently working centrally for her local authority in the early years team.  

She became a member of Aberdeen Early Education branch in 2007 and has served as vice chairperson, chairperson and now committee member.  Being a member has helped her keep motivated and enthusiastic to continue to work in the early years sector through meeting and listening to specialists in the early years field.

For the past twenty years, Lisa has worked within the education sector, serving as a teacher, Deputy Headteacher, Governor, and a Local Authority Head of Service. Through these roles, Lisa has gained vast experience in school improvement, change management, and ensuring children receive an excellent education—something she believes all children are entitled to.

Lisa has a proven ability to build strong relationships, communicate effectively with stakeholders, identify strategic routes to achievement, and lead a motivated staff to deliver measurable school improvement. Her role has also involved developing LA-wide systems to ensure children with SEND are receiving an appropriate graduated approach of support within schools.

Lisa’s passion lies in Early Years, and she strongly believes that excellent early experiences will lay the foundations for future success. She is incredibly motivated to see a fair and brilliant start to life for all. Lisa is a mother to three young boys, which drives her to work towards closing the gender gap in outcomes for boys, something she feels very strongly about.

Glenda is an Early Years Senior Lecturer at University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD). She has been involved in designing and implementing new early years training programmes including leading the development of an innovative two-year BA (Hons) degree for early years practitioners. This programme responds to the broader Welsh Government strategic priorities in terms of widening participation to higher education and developing a graduate early years’ workforce. She leads on key areas including marketing and admissions. Glenda has in recent years been volunteering in a Forest School nursery in order to share her experiences with students and also to develop her theory/practice links. 

Profile to follow

Denise has over 20 years of leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector and is passionate
about giving every child the best start in life. She is Business & Community Manager at Comet
Nursery School & Children’s Centre and previously served as Chief Executive of a children’s and
young people’s ClC. Denise brings expertise in financial management, fundraising, and
strategic development, and is currently completing an MBA in Senior Leadership.