Havering Education Services Early Years Quality Assurance Conference & Exhibition

Dr Julian Grenier

Julian has taught in inner London schools since 1990, starting off in primary and then specialising in the early years. He has been the headteacher of two maintained nursery schools and was the senior Early Years Adviser to Tower Hamlets from 2010-2012. He has a doctorate in education (EdD) from the UCL Institute of Education and is the author of several best-selling books on early years education and care. Julian is currently the headteacher of Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre in Newham, which is a Research School and a National Teaching School. Sheringham is currently leading an EEF-funded project to improve children’s early communication, Manor Park Talks. Sheringham is also one of London’s three Early Years Hubs, supported by the Mayor of London. Julian is is a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teachers and is on the editorial board of their journal, Impact.

Neil Griffiths

Neil was a Primary School headteacher for 13 years before taking on the role of director of a National Literacy Support Project for the Basic Skills Agency. He came up with and developed Storysacks, promoting them to schools and communities throughout the UK. After six years, Neil became a freelance consultant, allowing him to devote all of his energies to the project and set up what is now the worldwide, highly acclaimed, and award-winning Storysack phenomenon. Many publishers and institutions have asked Neil to contribute his wealth of experience to their projects over the years – his knowledge of learning, his gift of story, his passion for teaching, and his love of children – helping them to produce prized resources and to achieve success in the highly competitive educational market. He has created award-winning play resources, written a nursery curriculum, a best-selling resource book on creative play for Nelson Thornes Publishers, and imaginative material for the Early Learning Centre. He has developed a scheme for supporting English as an additional language for Harcourt Publishing and has consulted for a highly successful toy manufacturer. Neil also finds time to write his own children’s picture books, published exclusively by Red Robin Books. They feature strong storylines, memorable characters, enchanting language, and arresting illustrations. They charm children and have sold in the thousands. Neil loves to tell a story and a story time with him is a rare and highly entertaining event as he magically draws his audience into his storyworlds. Neil is also available for inspirational training worldwide. He is known internationally for his unique delivery, exceptional energy, and his rare storytelling gift.

Professor Elizabeth Wood

Elizabeth Wood is Professor of Education at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on early childhood and primary education, with specific interests in play and pedagogy; curriculum and assessment in ECE; teachers’ professionalism, leadership and professional knowledge; policy analysis and critique. Elizabeth has researched the ways in which children are blending digital and traditional play, and the implications for curriculum and pedagogy. Currently she is working with colleagues in Australian Catholic University on a project funded by the Australian Research Council into learning-rich leadership for early childhood leaders, and the challenges of workforce reform in early childhood education.