Early Years Conference: Green beginnings, sustainable futures

SIGN UP NOW! We have brought together a range of Early Years experts and professionals to create an EXCITING PROGRAMME for you
About this Event

Early Years Online Conference: Green beginnings, sustainable futures

Please see below short bios of our presenters:

How to develop sustainability informed staff by

Chief Executive – London Early Years Foundation

Read June’s blog:

Follow her on Twitter

As CEO and creator of the UK's leading childcare social enterprise, June continues to break new ground in the development of LEYF's scalable social business model.

She remains a tireless campaigner, looking for new ways to influence policy and make society a better place for all children and families.

June developed the LEYF Pedagogy for Social Justice and champions community-based, multi-generational early years education as the basis for greater social and cultural capital to deliver long-term social impact. She continues to advise Governments as well as a range of organisations, academics and services at home and overseas about how best to implement a social enterprise vision for Early Years.

June is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Trustee of The Book Trust, and her local library, Upper Norwood Library Trust. She is currently a member of the London Mayor’s Advisory Group on Child Healthy Weight and the Mayor’s Skills Partnership Board. June was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours in 2013 for her services to London’s children, and on the 29th September was awarded an OBE by His Majesty the King for her services to Education.

How to develop sustainability informed staff

Having sustainability-informed staff is crucial, particularly when we view ourselves as stewards of future generations. Sustainable development in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) aligns children's everyday experiences with the broader dimensions of sustainability—economic, social, and environmental. Education for sustainability aims to foster ecological integrity, equity, and ethics, embedding these principles in the governance, leadership, operations and pedagogy of settings. Ultimately, this interconnected approach led by sustainability – informed staff prepares children to become responsible global citizens, building thriving future communities grounded in sustainability values.

Climate change, sustainability and connecting to the natural world by Julie Whelan

Learning and Development Manager at Wakehurst, part of RBG Kew

· Responsible for Leading and developing the learning Programme at Wakehurst – an outdoor education programme linked to the national curriculum, the aim of which is to spark curiosity and inspires awe and wonder for the natural world.

· Lead trainer - CPD for schools – Carbon Literacy for Schools and Fostering Nature Connectedness in young people.

· Leading the People and Wellbeing area of our nature Unlocked research programme, co- designing and overseeing research on the value of biodiversity.

Climate change, sustainability and connecting to the natural world.

The importance of embedding climate action, sustainability and the wonder of the natural world in education, to inspire and empower young children to improve their community and their planet.

Where to begin and how to frame within a message of hope.

Climate education in the early years: positive, play-based and fun! by Shweta Bahri

Shweta Bahi is the founder of Earth Warriors Global, a social enterprise on a mission to bring age-appropriate and solutions-focused climate education to children around the world. She has spent the last three years designing and implementing climate education curriculum and teacher training programmes across five different countries reaching over 25,000 students and 5,000 teachers. Before starting Earth Warriors Shweta spent a decade working as an education policy specialist with governments, multilaterals and civil society in South Asia and the African Subcontinent. Her experience includes providing technical assistance, policy design and evaluation and large-scale programme management. Shweta started her career at Oxford Policy Management and then went on to work at the Ark Education Partnerships Group. She grew up in India, has a Master's in Public Administration from the London School of Economics and an undergraduate degree in Land Economy from the University of Cambridge.

Climate education in the early years: positive, play-based and fun!

Overview: The keynote address will focus on how climate education is possible for children in their early years and the appropriate pedagogy for it. It will start by outlining the research on why climate education should begin from a young age before delving into the Earth Warriors approach to early childhood climate education including global case studies, lesson ideas and teacher tips on how to get started in their setting / classroom. It will also touch upon eco-anxiety and extending climate education beyond the classroom.

Little Hands, Big Impact: Cultivating Sustainability in the Early Years by Alistair Bryce-Clegg

Alistair is an award-winning Early Years author, blogger, product designer and advocate of PLAY.

His work has been published in a number of books and magazines and he has worked as an Early Years advisor for various film and television projects.

Alongside support and training for a range of settings, schools and parents, he also works Internationally and with Local Authorities across the UK.

His most recent project is the co-creation of a child development app for parents called My First Five Years (mffy.com).

Alistair has an MA in Education and is currently studying for his Doctorate in Early Years.

He also finds time to be a husband to Fee and father of 3 boys (now young men!).

Little Hands, Big Impact: Cultivating Sustainability in the Early Years

In this keynote, we’ll explore how to integrate sustainability into early years settings in a way that fosters meaningful connections with the natural world. The focus will be on practical, hands-on strategies that encourage children to engage with sustainable practices in ways they can understand and embrace. By nurturing curiosity and embedding eco-friendly habits into everyday play, we can empower young learners to make a lasting impact on their environment and set them on the path toward a more sustainable future.

Sustainability Stories by Laura Henry-Allain MBE

Laura Henry-Allain MBE is an award-winning international educationalist, storyteller, producer and consultant.

She is the creator of the well-loved, award-winning, JoJo and Gran Gran global series, developed and produced by CBeebies, and is the series producer. Laura has a new children’s animation that is currently in development.

Laura has worked with several global brands, including Paramount, Mattel, Moonbug, Hasbro, John Lewis, Comic Relief and Bafta.

Her bestselling children's books include My Skin, Your Skin, My Family, Your Family and Maya and Marley, centres on an Adventure Playground.

Laura is a board member of the Children’s Media Foundation and vice president of The British Association of Early Childhood Education. She is also a patron of the Grenada Community Library, mentor to the Grenfell Memorial Quilt and an expert commissioner on the Raising the Nation Play Commission national inquiry into play.

Sustainability Stories

Laura will discuss how we can use stories, resources and materials to promote sustainability within settings. Especially sustainability stories, that show diversity, equality and inclusion.

9.15 Welcome/Introductions

9.25 – 10.10am

Key note speaker 1: June O’Sullivan OBE

How to develop sustainability informed staff

10.10am Break

10.20 – 11.05am

Key note speaker 2: Julie Whelan

Climate change, sustainability and connecting to the natural world

11.05am Break

11.25 – 12.10pm

Key note speaker 3: Shweta Bahri

Climate education in the early years: positive, play-based and fun!