The opening keynote will cover:
• Why the new APPG is a huge opportunity to ensure that the needs of babies and young children are considered throughout policy changes going forward.
• How the key issues of funding and sector capacity can be addressed to ensure that all families can access high quality places under the expanded childcare offer and how childcare funding can support those families most in need.
• Plans to open a stronger dialogue with the early years sector, so they can help to shape policy.

His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, will provide key insights into what the proposals are for the new inspection framework with a specific focus on what those changes mean for the early years sector and why a strong response to its consultation is vital for progress. He will also speak about what he sees are the key priorities for early years and for inspection and what you can expect from Ofsted going forward.

Christine Farquharson returns to this year’s summit with her incisive analysis of early years investment and policy, plus the bigger picture for public finances in 2025 and beyond – particularly in the context of the new Government and rollout of the expanded childcare offer.

Discussions will include:
• The sector is crying out for an effective new workforce strategy – is this the key to addressing staffing challenges?
• Developing sector led-quality improvement based on better qualifications and CPD – linking to better pay
• The need to establish a new qualified teacher route – and establishing parity with QTS
• Creating a skilled and diverse workforce

The Government’s ‘Plan to make work pay’ aims to modernise the UK workforce, give workers more rights and put bigger wages in their pockets. Nursery World’s regular columnist Imogen Edmunds will unpick changes to employment law and explore how this will affect pay and recruitment in the sector, placing it in the context of other issues such as the rise of the National Minimum Wage.

Digital skills are increasingly essential for an effective and productive early years workforce. They should form part of career progression opportunities and help to retain knowledge in the workforce but tend to be lacking in current training. This session will outline the challenges and provide practical steps to help transform the situation.

Partou’s Josie Mortimer and Simon Booth Liddle outline how, as part of an acquisition strategy, their company integrated 2,000 team members across 106 sites, creating a new business strategy, leadership and processes under the Partou brand.

The early years sector continues to consist of very different types of setting. Andrew Clifford will provide insights into the strengths of various models of provision, including social enterprises, partnership nurseries, single sites, co-operatives and large groups. He will consider which types of organisations are best placed to be sustainable in the current landscape, provide high quality and affordable options for parents, and deliver the best outcomes for children.