[SOLD OUT] Alliance Connect Roadshow: Celebrating SEND

The Early Years Alliance (formerly the Pre-school Learning Alliance) is the largest and most representative early years membership organisation in England. It provides high quality affordable childcare and education to support children and families in areas of deprivation.An educational charity, the Alliance represents the interests of over 14,000 settings who deliver care and learning to over 800,000 families annually.

Early Years Alliance

This interactive and inspiring event will explore how we as early educators can deliver truly inclusive practice

Engineers House Conference Venue: Bristol`s Premier Conference and Training Venue

***UPDATE: This event has now sold out. To be the first to hear about our next Connect Roadshow, taking place in spring 2026, fill out this short form: bit.ly/EYARoadshow2026 *** <h3>Celebrating SEND – a world without limits</h3> 9.15am to 4pm, 16 October 2025: Engineers’ House, The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol, BS8 3NB***The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) tells us that “every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident, and self-assured”. It is our role as early years professionals to ensure that each individual child is given the opportunity to thrive and reach their potential – and that, of course, includes children with known or suspected special educational need or disability (SEND).That is why we are excited to share with you that our next in-person Alliance Connect Roadshow is dedicated to ‘Celebrating SEND: a world without limits’. This events, which will take place in Bristol on 16 October 2025, will focus on what children with SEND can do and bring together like-minded early years professionals to discuss ways that we can promote true inclusivity in our practice to ensure that no child is left behind.The events will include a range of inspirational keynote speakers who will share their knowledge, experiences, scientific findings and practical ideas. Throughout the course of both days, attendees will have the chance to find out more about supporting neurodivergent children in talks about responding to children’s sensory systems, challenges around feeding and mealtimes, and also delving into the neuroscience of neurodiversity, as well as discussing inclusive practice through our approaches and environments.Keynote speakers include: Catherine Mole (CEO, Dingley's Promise), Cat Jewkes (TTS), Lucy Wood (early years dietician), Dr Gemma Goldenberg (psychologist and education expert), Cheryl Warren (early years consultant), Sue Newman (Boogie Mites), Emma Pinnock (director, The Essential Education Group) and Alliance CEO Neil Leitch. These keynote speakers will also join Shannon Pite (Alliance communications and external affairs director) in a panel discussion to discuss what changes are needed to ensure that all children with SEND get the support they deserve.Lunch is included with your Roadshow ticket.NB: We have a limited number of places for local authorities. If you are a local authority, please contact <a href="mailto:connect@eyalliance" title="mailto:connect@eyalliance" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">connect@eyalliance.org.uk</a> to book your place directly.For our full terms and conditions, including our refund policy, click <a href="https://www.eyalliance.org.uk/sites/default/files/online_events_-_terms_conditions_and_privacy_notice.pdf" title="https://www.eyalliance.org.uk/sites/default/files/online_events_-_terms_conditions_and_privacy_notice.pdf" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

<h3>Keynote speakers and topics</h3>Catherine Mole, Dingley's PromiseCelebrating inclusive early years practice: how early years professionals can provide the best foundation for children with SENDCatherine will consider what great inclusive practice looks like – both in leadership and in practical delivery, the tools we have to support this practice, and the partnerships that are critical for getting it right. She will use best practice examples from key areas to demonstrate how we can achieve meaningful inclusion for every child.Catherine Jewkes, TTSWondering why in the early yearsIn the session we will:<ul><li>Explore the SEND Code of Practice and what that means for Early Years settings.</li><li>Discuss ways to develop an inclusive environment with experiences and opportunities that scaffold all learners, including those with special educational needs.</li><li>Share practical ideas and resources to use in your setting.</li></ul>Catherine is a former teacher, senior leader and qualified SENCo, having taught across many different year groups from Nursery to Year 6. She has also worked for a Local Authority leading and supporting a locality of over 70 mainstream and specialist settings from nurseries through to colleges, helping to develop and implement provision for their learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).Session led by Catherine Jewkes, and supported by Michelle Reid and Irina Bartlett, from TTS.Lucy Wood, early years dietitianFeeding challenges and neurodivergenceIn this talk we will look into some of the specific feeding challenges that arise with neurodivergent children and the impact these can have on physical health and everyday life. Strategies to manage difficulties and to create more positivity with food will be explored.Lucy has a BSc honours degree from King’s College London with additional postgraduate learning through the British Dietetic Association in common paediatric disorders. Lucy is trained to work with children with feeding difficulties in both the Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding (The SOS Approach) and Emotionally Aware Feeding Responsive Feeding Approach. She has been working as a registered dietitian for 11 years both within the NHS and the private sector.Lucy is on a mission to eliminate outdated generational feeding myths to help parents to work with, not against, the individualism of their child. By creating connections that prioritise both nurture and nutrition, parents and children can enjoy healthier relationships with each other, and their food.As a neurodivergent single parent to 2 young children Lucy understands the difficulties that can arise from parenting children with emotional and sensory difficulties. This fuels her determination to assist parents struggling with feeding difficulties, striving to alleviate their stress whilst creating an environment where children can build their confidence around foods whilst feeling truly understood as an individual.Lucy has been featured in the media for publications such as the BBC, Asda Good Living and Nursery World. She has spoken at conferences such as The Baby Show and is currently working as the consulting expert on feeding for Hipp Organic UK.Dr Gemma Goldenberg is a psychologist and education expert with over 20 years' experience in schools, nurseries, and educational research. She works at ISEY (Institute for the Science of Early Years), focusing on applying psychology and neuroscience to teaching practice. Gemma co-authored Take Action on Distraction, a guide to supporting young children's attention, and is a regular contributor to publications like Early Years Educator and Nursery World.A blooming buzzing confusion: young brains and neurodivergenceIn this talk we start with some key findings on how children’s brains develop, and why all young children (not just neurodivergent ones) experience the world as a ‘blooming, buzzing confusion’. Then, we talk about the neuroscience of neurodiversity, and the different pathways that can cause a child to become neurodivergent. We talk about the neuroscience of why neurodivergent children like repetition, and why unsuitable environments can trigger meltdowns, and we talk about how repetition and rhythms drive early brain development.Cheryl Warren, early years consultantBelonging and connection: the power of becoming a neurodiversity affirming educatorIn this session Cheryl will share her lived experiences and passion for all things neurodiversity affirming practice. Cheryl will discuss our 8 sensory systems, and we will learn how to activate or calm them depending on the behaviours we observe in our children, as well as learning how sensations not emotions impact children’s behavioural responses to stimulus.Sue Newman, Boogie MitesSue Newman will lead a presentation on the important part that music and movement activities play in supporting development of auditory processing and rhythmic awareness, and to invite everyone to join in with a music activity demo.Emma Pinnock, director of The Essential Education GroupEmma will discuss how educators can support families who are starting out on this new journey with their child and the continued support some families need, exploring how this links to the wellbeing of the whole family.

<h3>Agenda</h3> 9.15am - 9.45am: Refreshments and networking9.45am – 9.55am: Welcome and introductions - Michael Freeston - Alliance director of quality improvement9.55am - 10.20am: Celebrating inclusive early years practice: how early yearsprofessionals can provide the best foundation for children with SEND - Catherine Mole - Dingley's Promise10.20am - 10.45am: Wondering why in the early years - Catherine Jewkes - TTS10.45am - 11.15am: Feeding challenges and neurodivergence - Lucy Wood - Early years dietitian11.15am - 11.35am: Refreshments11.35am - 12.05pm: A blooming buzzing confusion: young brains and neurodivergence - Dr Gemma Goldenberg - author, psychologist and education expert from the Institute for the Science of Early Years, focusing on applying psychology and neuroscience to teaching practice.12.05pm – 12.25pm: Neil Leitch, Alliance CEO. The existing SEND policy landscape, and what needs to change to ensure that all children are able to get the quality early education and care they need and deserve.12.25pm - 1.00pm: Emma Noel Pinnock, director of The Essential Education Group1.00pm - 2.00pm: Lunch and networking2.00pm - 2.55pm: Panel discussion – Building a brighter future: What needs to change to ensure that all children with SEND get the support they deserve - Keynote speakers will join Neil Leitch, Alliance CEO. Chaired by Shannon Pite, Alliance communications and external affairs director.3.00pm - 3.30pm: Belonging and connection – The power of becoming a neurodiversity affirming educator - Cheryl Warren - early years consultant3.30pm - 3.55pm: Harnessing the superpower of music and movement for development of key skills: auditory processing and rhythmic awareness - Sue Newman - Boogie Mites3.55pm - 4.00pm: Prize draw and close Prize drawAttendees will also have the chance to win a mini-sensory space bundle worth around £200, including:<ul><li>a mini pop-up sensory pod</li><li>light up recordable domes</li><li>light up lanterns</li><li>a vibrating guinea pig</li></ul>