Day One: A Decade of Discovery: Transforming the Early Years System in Bradford to Reduce Inequities in the First 1001 Days
Day Two: Seeds of Change: Embedding Legacy, Cultivating the Early Years Workforce and Growing Healthy, Happy Children
Join Better Start Bradford and Born in Bradford as they celebrate over two days, 10 years of learning, collaboration, research and impact through their mission to give Bradford babies the best start possible.
We will also massively celebrate the value and impact of the early years workforce and local families who form the backbone of everything that we have achieved and who have embraced and delivered the change in the shifting early years landscape in Bradford.
Be inspired: We will provide a platform for knowledge sharing, thought provocation, collaboration, inspiration, through insightful expert-led presentations, parents’ and workforce ‘lived experience’ stories, interactive panels discussions and networking opportunities. Over the two days, we will explore some of our key learning and shared evidence-based approaches, practical strategies, and best practice to support health, wellbeing and wider public health outcomes during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.
Discover: Find out how the Better Start Bradford programme has provided evidence of what works to give every child the best start in life, and how we can transform the early years system to reduce inequities in child health and development across the life course.
Collaborate: This conference will bring together strategic leaders and decision makers, early years practitioners, academic and research partners, partners from local authority, health, social care, early years, the voluntary and community sector, commissioners, higher and further education partners, community leaders and parents; all with a shared passion of supporting, and growing capacity in the community, workforce and system to improve outcomes for children and families.
Special Guests (Day One): Special guests include Professor Claudine Bowyer-Crane, University of Sheffield, Professor Sharon Goldfeld, Centre For Community Child Health (CCCH), Melbourne, Neil Leitch, CEO, Early Years Alliance, Professor Kate Pickett, Professor Rosie McEachan, Born in Bradford, Dr Josie Dickerson, Director, Better Start Bradford Innovation Hub, Gill Thornton, Director, Better Start Bradford.
Sharing Knowledge, Shaping Futures (Day Two): We have ten years of lessons learned and knowledge to share and we are inviting attendees to take this opportunity to absorb our learning and to digest:
· How we have already helped to shape early years systems locally and nationally
· The value of the role of the community and local parents and families in the development of our programme.
· How workforce development has been vital for effective programme delivery.
· The availability of toolkits, resource, impact reports, interactive media.
· Our exhibition of projects and initiatives we have delivered over ten years.
Agendas Please note that these may be subject to change
Day One Agenda https://www.betterstartbradford.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Day-One-Agenda-BIB-V1.pdf
Day Two Agenda Coming very soon
Panel Sessions (book in ticket area)
When you book your place(s), you will be asked to choose your preferred panel sessions on Day One, which are as follows:
(choose A or B and C or D)
Panel Session A
a) How to improve outdoor play and the use of green spaces – Professor Rosie McEachan, Born in Bradford & special guests
b) How to improve Language and communication development – Professor Claudine Bowyer-Crane, University of Sheffield & special guests
Panel Session B
c) How to improve socio-emotional development – Associate Professor Sarah Blower, University of York & special guests
d) How to improve health and nutrition – Professor Maria Bryant, University of York & special guests
Travel Information
The hotel is situated directly across the road from Bradford Interchange Train and Bus Station.
There is paid parking at the venue, which you can arrange directly with the venue on 01274 728706.
There are several reasonably priced multi-storey car parks in Bradford, including the Leisure Exchange, BD1 5AA and The Broadway, BD1 1JR.
