Anne O’Connor

Anne taught in early years settings in London primary schools for more than 20 years before becoming an independent consultant, trainer and writer. She is an associate of Early Education. She also co-founded and is a principal consultant with Primed for Life Training Associates.

Dr Amy Page

Dr Amy Page is chair of PACEY. After practising as a paediatric doctor for many years, Amy qualified as an EYP and moved into childminding for six years. She then became regional manager of a group of pre-schools, day nurseries and after-school clubs. Amy currently works for a medical insurance company.

Di Chilvers

Di Chilvers is an advisory consultant in early childhood education, having worked in the early years sector for more than 39 years as a nursery nurse, teacher, senior lecturer, adviser and National Strategies regional adviser. Her work includes children’s creative and critical thinking, listening to their conversational talk and trying to understand their thinking. She has written several books, many articles and has created an assessment tool called the Development Map.

Jo Caswell

Jo is a former Ofsted HMI Early Years and worked as an inspector and senior manager for 20 years. She is now an independent early years consultant, writer and trainer. Jo has over 30 years’ experience in early years roles, including nursery manager and Reception teacher. Jo is the Co-founder of Peachwell Early Years Consultants.

Julie Mountain

Julie Mountain is a specialist early years landscape designer and educator. She is former operations director at Learning through Landscapes, while her community interest company, Play Learning Life, currently works alongside schools, settings and families to make the most of outdoor learning and play. Julie has written three books and many articles for Nursery World.

Jane Harrison

Jane Harrison is director of Red Hen Day Nursery, which has gained national accolades for providing outstanding provision on a working farm. Jane has a first-class degree in early childhood and is an advocate for children’s healthy lifestyles. Her nursery has received three Nursery World Awards.

Edwina Revel

Edwina Revel is the programme director for nutrition at Early Start Group, supporting nurseries to achieve standards of nutrition excellence. She has developed Association for Nutrition certified training covering menu planning and nutrition for young children.

Anna Wright

Anna Wright ran the Paint Pots Nurseries group in Southampton for 30 years. She continues to work as an ambassador for them as well as being a consultant, trainer and charity trustee. Paint Pots was Nursery Group of the Year in 2018. Anna is well known for her love of babies – and toy mice!

Penny Tassoni

Penny Tassoni MBE is an education consultant, author and trainer. She has written more than 30 books and is the author of the best-selling Practical EYFS Handbook. Penny is also president of early years organisation PACEY. She is a regular and very popular contributor to Nursery World.

Sarah Mackenzie

Sarah Mackenzie is CEO at Storal nursery group. Her leadership career has focused on high quality early education, employee engagement, learning and development and business growth. Sarah is a columnist in Nursery World and a member of Ofsted’s Early Education and Curriculum forum.

John Warren

John Warren is a director of the Toddletown Nursery group and new Toddleworld Franchise. He has worked for large groups of nurseries at director level and has experience in every aspect of the early years including as a nursery practitioner. John has also been an Ofsted inspector.

Ruth Pimentel

Ruth Pimentel is CEO at Kindred Education, a group of 23 nurseries and pre-schools. Ruth was the Early Years National Director with the Government’s National Strategies from 2006-2009 and was instrumental in managing the development and implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Nicola Read

Nicola Read is the owner of award-winning social media management company Babbl, which services the childcare and kids club sectors. Babbl increased one nursery’s turnover by 126% in five months. Nicola is a chair of governors, playgroup trustee and passionate about early years.

Rebecca Martland

Rebecca Martland has more than 20 years’ experience in the early years sector. She is an independent early years trainer and consultant, EYP, qualified teacher and four-times Outstanding registered childminder, and is co-founder of a thriving local childminding association, Magic Minders.

Dr Sharon Colilles

Dr Sharon Colilles is Senior Lecturer in early childhood education at UWE – Bristol, a Trustee on Froebel Trust Council, and an associate trainer for the Centre for Research in Early Childhood Education (CREC) and Early Education. She was project assistant for the development of Birth to Five Matters. guidance. Sharon’s research is concerned with play based participatory pedagogies.

Neil Leitch

Neil Leitch OBE was appointed CEO of the Early Years Alliance in 2008. He has been a strident leader of the membership organisation, overseeing its rebrand in 2019. Neil has fronted numerous sector campaigns on fair funding and staff mental health. of the early years workforce, Minds Matter.

Helen Moylett

Helen Moylett received Nursery World’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 after working in early years as a practitioner, university lecturer, head teacher and consultant. She was centrally involved in developing the EYFS and led Every Child a Talker. She is a vice-president of Early Education.

Purnima Tanuku

Purnima Tanuku OBE is chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association. Purnima works closely with ministers and senior civil servants and is a major contributor to the policy debate across the UK. She was awarded an OBE in 2010. She regularly appears on national television, radio and in print media.

Stella Ram-Louis

Dr Stella Ram-Louis is a freelance early years trainer and consultant who has also worked as a nursery nurse, nursery manager and NNEB course co-ordinator. She has an MA, a doctorate in education and is a Froebelian-trained travelling tutor. Stella has a strong interest in schemas.

Ruth Swailes

Ruth has 28 years’ experience in education and has worked as a teacher, consultant, advisor, writer and inspector in different authorities. Ruth currently works as an Improvement Adviser with schools and early years settings and was the joint winner of the Nursery World Trainer of the Year Award 2021.

Liz Pemberton

Liz Pemberton is a former nursery manager who is now director ofThe Black Nursery Manager, which specialises in anti-racist training and consultancy for the early years education sector, promoting inclusive practice.

Dr Sue Allingham

Dr Sue Allingham is an independent consultant, author and trainer. Beginning her early years career in the classroom, she went on to senior education roles in the late 1980s. Sue followed an MA with a doctorate, both in early years education, from Sheffield University.

Matthew Sayer

Matthew Sayer works as a curriculum consultant for Early Excellence, specialising in young children’s education. As part of the senior and curriculum team Matthew facilitates training, support and development working with schools, academy trusts and local authorities. across England and Wales.

Dr Jools Page

Dr Jools Page is senior early years lecturer at the University of Brighton. She developed the concept of ‘Professional Love’ and received The AiMH UK Louise Emmanuel Award 2021: ‘To recognise those who have demonstrated a significant contribution to Infant Mental Health in terms of practice or … research and policy’

Linda Keats

Linda Keats has worked in early years for over 30 years, both in Australia and the UK. She is an early years advisor within a local authority and supports staff in understanding the importance of quality enabling environments. She also has four-year-old twins!

Sue Asquith

Sue Asquith is an international early childhood consultant who has been a registered childminder, mentor affiliated with local children centres, college lecturer, associate trainer and assessor for charities. Current work includes writing and delivering training, consultancy visits and keynote speeches. and workshops. Her book Self-Regulation Skills in Young Children was published in April 2020.

Dr Tanya Richardson

Dr Tanya Richardson is a Senior Lecturer in Early Years at the University of Northampton and is Programme Leader for the Early Childhood Studies programmes. She led her own ‘outstanding’ day nursery. She is particularly interested in the student experience for Early Childhood Studies and supervises doctoral students.

Alison Featherbe

Alison Featherbe is a consultant and trainer, who has been in the sector for over 35 years. Her roles included EYFS lead, Area SENDCo and EY Officer for a local authority. Alison is an EYT Mentor, SchemaPlay™ trainer and NSPCC trained. She was joint winner of NW’s Trainer of the Year for 2021.

Aaron Bradbury Coffey

Aaron is a Principal Lecturer in Early Childhood at Nottingham Trent University with a specialism in Early Help, Child Development and Child Protection. He has also been a Children’s Commissioner for Public Health and Social Care.