Inspirational Two-Day Visit from Early Years Experts

We were thrilled to welcome three outstanding early years professionals—Dr Aaron Bradbury, Philippa Thompson and Matthew Northall—to our nursery for a transformative two-day visit. Their time with us was packed with insightful workshops, parent engagement and strategic planning, leaving a lasting impact on our staff, families and provision.

Dr Aaron Bradbury, Principal Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at Nottingham Trent University and a leading voice in play, inclusion and workforce development, led a dynamic session on stretch and challenge in the early years.

Drawing from his research and policy work (including co-authoring the Birth to Five Matters guidance), he explored how to scaffold children's learning without limiting their curiosity.

Philippa Thompson is a Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University's School of Social Sciences, bringing nearly 20 years of expertise in early childhood education, policy and research. A qualified early years teacher, her career spans International Teaching: 

Matthew Northall is Lecturer & Lecturer Liaison | Early Childhood Specialist | Researcher Hands-on Practice.  Academic Leadership: After earning a degree in Early Childhood Studies and a teaching qualification, he taught in Further Education before advancing to Higher Education. He is currently the Course Lead for the BA (Hons) Childhood and Education Studies (Online) at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). He teaches across Early Childhood Studies and Childhood Studies programmes and supports research dissertations. He is also a Lecturer Liaison with a partner institution in Shanghai, China, fostering international collaboration.

The visit left us brimming with ideas and energy. From Dr Aaron's advocacy for play and child voice to Philippa's training in the Leuven Scales and Outdoor Learning, and Matthew's vision for technology and men in early years, their expertise will shape our practice for years to come.

Parent Workshop: Dr Aaron delivered a captivating talk to families on the vital role of play in early childhood, debunking myths about 'just playing' and showcasing how play builds resilience, creativity and cognitive skills. Parents were left with practical ideas to support play at home.

Little Welly Club Consultation: He spent time advising staff on our under-twos provision, offering expert recommendations on room layout, resource selection and sensory experiences to support our youngest learners better.

Outdoor Area Review: Philippa worked with leaders to develop our strategic plans for the outdoor space, assessing how to optimise areas for different types of learning. Her expertise helped us prioritise changes to promote risk-taking, social interaction and nature connection.

Leuven Scales Deep Dive: Staff participated in advanced training on using the Leuven Scales to track wellbeing and involvement, with cross-team moderation to ensure consistency. The inclusion of our colleague from Wellington College Tianjin enriched the global perspective.

Dad's Army Session: Matthew met with our Dad's Army group—founded by staff members Kofi Ansah and Greg Pauline—to reflect on the initiative's impact and plan its future growth. His research on men in early childhood education fuelled discussions about representation and community engagement.

Ed Tech Vision: He collaborated with our Director of Educational Technology to review plans for a dedicated Ed Tech space, balancing digital tools with hands-on, play-based learning principles.

We are deeply grateful to Dr Aaron, Philippa and Matthew for their generosity, wisdom and unwavering commitment to excellence in Early Years. Their visit was not just informative—it was a celebration of the importance of early education. The team welcomed the opportunity to learn from such well-respected experts and, as always, to engage with other Early Years colleagues in professional discussions and the sharing of ideas. Many commented on coming away with many fresh ideas and energy to put into practice.

Thank you for inspiring us all!