Nursery World's Big Day Out 2027 Exhibitor List

<p>Laura Henry-Allain MBE is an award-winning international storyteller, educationalist producer and consultant.</p> <p>She is the creator of the well-loved, award-winning first Black British Animation, JoJo and Gran Gran global series, developed and produced by CBeebies, and is the series producer. Laura has a new children&rsquo;s animation that is currently in development.</p> <p>Laura has worked with several global brands, including Paramount, Mattel, Moonbug, Hasbro, John Lewis, Glastonbury and Bafta.</p> <p>Her bestselling children's books include My Skin, Your Skin and My Family, Your Family, and Maya and Marley, which centres on an adventure playground.</p> <p>Laura is a board member of the Children&rsquo;s Media Foundation and vice president of The British Association of Early Childhood Education. She is also a patron of the Grenada Community Library, an expert commissioner on the Raising the Nation Play Commission national inquiry into play and the creator and presenter of the podcast My Words, My Book.</p>

<p>Lisa Ann Peters is an award-winning PhD researcher at the Institute for the Science of Early Years and Youth, University of East London. With over eight years of experience in education, her research examines how predictable routines, rhythms, and repetition influence young children&rsquo;s learning, attention, and well-being. Using modern techniques such as head-mounted cameras, heart-rate variability monitoring, and detailed classroom observations, she explores how small, practical changes, co-developed with teachers, may reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance learning outcomes, particularly for children facing disadvantage. Lisa&rsquo;s work aims to bridge neuroscience and education, providing teachers with clear, evidence-based strategies to create calmer and more effective learning environments.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>I began my journey in childcare at just 16 years old, starting as an apprentice and working my way through every level of nursery life. Today, I proudly serve as Regional Operations Director at Grandir UK. Alongside my professional path, I&rsquo;m a mum to four wonderful children- one of whom has been diagnosed with ASD. Navigating the beautiful complexities that come with this has only deepened my drive to ensure every nursery is inclusive, inspiring, and truly child-centric. My passion lies in championing high-quality early years environments that gives every child the best possible start in life. I&rsquo;m equally committed to inspiring the next generation of early years professionals to care, nurture, and lead with heart and purpose.</p>

<p>Rita Lemos is a nursery manager at one of Acorn Early Years&rsquo; settings. She holds a BSc in Education from the University of Southampton and has over 15 years of experience in the early years sector.</p> <p>She is currently completing an NPQ Early Years Leadership course at University College London and is conducting research into the impact of cloth nappies on potty learning. Rita and her team were among the first nurseries in the Acorn group to participate in a cloth nappy trial last summer.</p>

<p>Christopher is a university lecturer,&nbsp;keynote speaker, author, researcher, and the wellbeing specialist for the Phoenix Cups, and Phoenix Support for Educators.&nbsp;</p> <p>He is the co-author of the&nbsp;book The Phoenix Cups: A Cup Filling Story,&nbsp;and tours Australia and beyond delivering the Phoenix Cups&reg; framework through a highly entertaining Workplace Wellbeing workshop, and keynote presentation. Chris&rsquo; workshops and presentations have been dubbed as &ldquo;edutainment&rdquo;; the perfect blend of education and fun. As someone who continues to learn, Chris is currently undertaking his Ph.D. in Political Philosophy, to pursue his theories on authenticity, and how we can create meaningful lives, and attempt to meet our needs.</p>

<p>Cheryl has over 30 years&rsquo; experience within the early years and childcare sector. On completion of the NNEB, Cheryl&rsquo;s career has seen her undertake roles as a nanny, family support, LA advisor, SENCO, trainer, assessor, lecturer and quality inspector.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Cheryl is now an early year&rsquo;s consultant and trainer with her own company, Aperion Training, with a passion and specialism for neurodiversity in early years, supporting early years settings and schools to become autism environment champions. Cheryl regularly speaks at events and conferences nationwide and is currently writing her first book on this important subject area.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Cheryl works with nurseries across the country, delivering training for teams as well as visits to settings offering her autism environmental audits, along with support to embed her recommendations.&nbsp; She also provides in person guided support on quality neuroinclusive practice, SEND policy reviews and SENCo support for several nursery chains.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Cheryl is an award-winning trainer and consultant and is clear on her mission; to provide early years spaces that enable our neurodivergent children to thrive, not just survive

<p>Helen is an internationally renowned consultant, trainer, author and speaker in physical activity/movement in early and primary education with an MA in Early Childhood Physical Activity and Movement Studies. Her training style is energetic, passionate and highly motivational. Helen is respected globally for her valued contribution to raising the profile of early years physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviours.</p> <p>Helen works as a lecturer for 5 universities delivering an Initial Teacher Training (ITT) module in Primary PE and PE Pedagogy as well as Early Childhood Physical Development. She is also an approved provider for the UK&rsquo;s Association for Physical Education (AfPE) and a member of the Chartered Association of Teachers.</p> <p>Helen&rsquo;s consultancy takes her all over the world, from Malaysia and Dubai, to China and Romania. The movement philosophy Helen promotes is to embed movement within the curriculum to enable a movement philosophy. Helen believes that young children learn through movement, and early years practice must adopt an approach which is accessible to all. The embodiment of her practice is to raise confidence in the areas of movement play and physical activity. The training Helen delivers ranges from supporting educators in developing activities to support the early years framework they are working with, to working with coaches and PE leads to create developmentally appropriate PE schemes of work for young children.</p>

<p>John has over 40 years experience within the childcare and education arena, starting out with his NNEB 1983 to his Masters at Sheffield University in 2012. He has a huge array of experience from his time in the sector, including as a nursery nurse, nursery manager, Family Centre worker and community development worker. After School Club owner, Ofsted inspector, Childcare and Education manager for Asquith Day Nurseries, Head of Quality and Improvement for Fennies Nurseries, and Regional Manager for Kids Unlimited. John is now a freelance consultant and one of the owner/directors of a bespoke franchise company.</p> <p>John was twice voted one of the top ten most influential people in childcare and education industry in the UK and is an international speaker and trainer.</p>

<p>Sue started as a teacher, finally becoming a Senior Early Years Lead in a Primary School and Lead Teacher for her Local Authority.&nbsp; Moving into research Sue gained an MA then a Doctorate, both in Early Childhood Education, from Sheffield University.&nbsp;&nbsp; This led to becoming a Local Authority Early Years Adviser enabling her to develop her practice working with provision across the EYFS. &nbsp;&nbsp;As an Independent Consultant, Author and Trainer, Sue is known for her practical style of working through coaching, mentoring, modelling, training and working alongside teams to develop practice and provision.</p> <p>Her interests in teaching and learning have led to work on emotional and physical environments that will support informed teaching and learning through an understanding of neuroscience and physical development</p> This work has recently led to her being trained and accredited in the Brain-SET approach. This approach is rooted in early brain development and has added a new dimension to her work.&nbsp; Sue has also achieved a Level 2 Award in an Introduction to Neuroscience in Early Years, and has been trained in Physical Literacy, and the use of the Leuven Scales <p>As a member of the Editorial Board of EYE (Early Years Educator) her writing is familiar to many and she has written two books that support practice across the Early Years and into Key Stage One &ndash; Transitions in the Early Years and Emotional Literacy in the Early Years.&nbsp; Both published by Practical Pre-School Books</p>

<p>Josh boasts over 7 years of experience as an Early Years PE teacher within a chain of private nurseries across London. His dedication to inspiring the next generation and laying the groundwork for a lifelong appreciation of sport and physical development has culminated in the area of 'Early Years PE'. Josh firmly believes that every child deserves the optimal start in life, wherein physical education, development, and activity play integral roles.</p>

<p>Dr Julian Grenier is the Senior Content and Engagement Manager &ndash; Early Years at the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).</p> <p>Before joining the EEF, he was the headteacher of Sheringham Nursery School and Children&rsquo;s Centre in Newham, East London. During that time, he was a National Leader of Education and was also the Director of East London Research School.</p> <p>He is the author of several best-selling books, including Putting the EYFS Curriculum into Practice (co-edited with Caroline Vollans) and is a regular writer for Nursery World.</p> <p>Julian was awarded a CBE for services to Early Years Education in 2022.</p>