Advisory Board

Adam Marycz, Early Years Consultant, Teacher, Writer, Trainer and Early Childhood Advocate

Adam is currently the Early Years Education Consultant at TTS Resources as well as a writer and trainer who was previously an Early Years teacher and manager of ‘Outstanding’ early years and wraparound provision settings for over 14 years. In recent years Adam has been an outspoken voice in the sector who aims to encourage collaboration and facilitate critical discussion amongst all voices within early childhood to build a brighter future and create a space where all children, families and educators can flourish.

Adam is a passionate advocate of the vital role early childhood plays in the nurture and development of the leaders of tomorrow and has written thought leadership pieces, shared best practice and delivered training for many different organisations and publications from Early Years Educator magazine and The Voice of Early Childhood to local authority conferences and universities.

Alexia Fenn, Chief Operating Officer, Fennies

With a background in Finance, I joined the early years sector three years ago to bring my operational
knowledge to the Fennies group and support its growth. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to work
closely with Admissions, Finance, Marketing, and the People Function, focusing on attracting talent
and encouraging more people to consider early years education as a fulfilling career path. I’m
passionate about supporting individuals in this journey and highlighting the rewarding opportunities
within the sector.

In January, I’ll begin my Level 3 qualification in Early Years to further my understanding of child
development and strengthen my role in this field. I’m honoured to join the Nursery World advisory
board and look forward to contributing to the future of early years education

Angelica Deassis, COO, Little Elms

With over 24 years in the sector, Angelica worked with organizations like Bright Horizons, overseeing the operations, financial performance, and quality of 22 nurseries to ensure compliance and excellence in early years provision. Her experience includes strategic planning, operational management, and stakeholder engagement, along with expertise in curriculum design and safeguarding.

As a former Ofsted inspector, Angelica conducted inspections across various settings. Currently Angelica de Assis is the COO for Little Elms, Angelica stated that  “I’m proud to champion our shared values of diversity, creativity, and collaboration, making a positive impact on families and communities”.

Anna Speke, Early Years Education Officer, nasen

Anna is Early Years Education Officer at nasen (National Association for Special
Educational Needs). She is an experienced SENCO and SEND Lead, having worked across different local authorities and within multi-academy trusts. Anna has experience in both specialist and mainstream settings, and has led a communication and interaction hub provision, working between specialist and mainstream settings to support children with a range of additional needs.

As well as being an advocate for inclusion by design in all settings, Anna has a particular interest in animal assisted therapies, outdoor learning and Forest School, and how these are of holistic benefit to all learners, particularly those
with SEND.

Caroline Wright, Director of Early Childhood, Bright Horizons UK

Caroline is currently employed as the Director of Early Childhood for Bright Horizons UK. Formerly EYFS quality improvement lead in a Local Authority and Ofsted inspector for over 14 years.

Caroline has a proven track record in developing and leading strategic and operational plans that deliver sustained improvements in early childhood pedagogy and in regulatory inspection outcomes.

In her earlier career. Caroline has also trained and managed a team of Early Years inspectors within Ofsted and the Local Authority and has spent time working as a University Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies. She led the EYITT (Early Years Initial Teacher Training) programme in East Anglia, and worked closely with The National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) to develop the materials for the qualification. Currently she is involved in research, which examines the impact of a training programme for early years practitioners, and focuses on Emotional Wellbeing in young children.

Catherine McLeod, Charity Leader

Catherine has been a charity leader for over 25 years, and is passionate about equity and inclusion for children and young people with disabilities. She became the Chief Executive of Dingley’s Promise in 2015, and has grown the organisation from a small local charity to a national one that delivers training and influences policy alongside its core local support services.

She was awarded an MBE in 2011 for her work with disadvantaged children, and today is a mentor for ACEVO, a national speaker, and an advisor to a range of governmental and non-governmental bodies around early years SEND inclusion. 

Catherine Stoneman, COO, Kido

Catherine joined the team at Kido six and a half years ago when they had one nursery in London. Since then, the group has grown to 17 Good and Outstanding rated nurseries. As COO Catherine oversees all things performance, people, training and culture related.

Catherine is passionate about providing the highest quality early years education and care possible whilst marrying consideration for, and commitment to, doing right by its people.

Kido have over 450 colleagues that work in their nurseries, including a cohort of nearly 90
apprentices. Kido are incredibly proud of their approach to putting people and development first and have been recognised as one of the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in 2024.

Clare Roberts, CEO, Kids Planet

Clare is CEO and founder of Kids Planet, which she founded in 2008, having noticed a lack of high quality, flexible childcare for working parents.  Kids Planet provides the highest standard of nursery care in unique environments across the Northwest, North East, Yorkshire, The Midlands and North Wales.  The company has grown considerably in size since it first opened, with over 200 settings to date through acquisitions and organic growth, with aspirations to expand further across England.   They are responsible for the care of over 25,000 children and employ over 5,500 staff.

Clare was Barclays Female Entrepreneur in 2017 and the business has been awarded numerous awards at The Nursery World and NMT national events.

Clare received an OBE in 2022 for her commitment and dedication to the Early Years Sector over the years.   She also received Outstanding Contribution at the NMT Nursery Awards in 2022.
 

Colin Stangl, Sales Manager, Community Playthings

Since 2017, I have been the UK Sales Manager at Community Playthings, leading our sales and events teams to support educators in creating safe, nurturing environments for children.

Our mission is to empower schools and nurseries to create spaces that foster exploration and growth, enabling children to thrive.

Outside of work, my wife and I love spending time with our three daughters, watching them grow and learn as much as possible in the great outdoors.

Courtney Donaldson, Managing Director of Childcare & Education

As Managing Director of Childcare & Education, Courteney has a vast range of expertise in the childcare and education sectors. She has specialised in the childcare sector since 1999, providing valuation, transactional and consultative
advice to operators, banks, and investors. In one capacity or another, she has been involved in virtually every major UK day nursery transaction since 2006.

Working with owners of single settings, regional, and national groups, both domestically across the UK and internationally, Courteney has a unique insight into current trends across global childcare markets, including levels of market demand, supply, and operational sustainability. Courteney advises on other UK based child-centred businesses including residential special educational needs schools, children’s homes, independent schools, and foster care businesses. Alongside Courteney’s national role at Christie & Co, and as testament to her expertise in the nursery sector, she sits on the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Board, as a Co-opted Trustee.

David Wright, Advisor, National Association of Headteachers

David Wright is the former owner of Paint Pots Nurseries, an award winning group of
daycare settings in Southampton. Amongst several roles, David acts as an advisor to various organisations including the National Association of Headteachers. He is an Early Childhood Education ambassador, author, broadcaster, commentator,
presenter, consultant, TEDx speaker, trainer, editorial board member, trustee and national representative to the World Forum on ECE.

David is better known on social media as @Mr_Paintpots. He is an active campaigner for gender diversity in the
ECE workforce. In 2022, he was the recipient of the Nursery World lifetime achievement award. He also received a city of Southampton award from the mayor in recognition of services to ECE.

Dr Aaron Bradbury, Principle Lecturer for Early Years and Childhood and Early Years Studies, Nottingham Trent University

Dr Aaron Bradbury is the Principal Lecturer for Early Years and Childhood and Early Childhood Studies at Nottingham Trent University. Aaron is a member of the Coalition for the Early Years on the Birth to Five Matters Non Statutory Guidance for the EYFS and chaired and written the Equalities and Inclusion section with colleagues in the sector. Aaron is a published author on early childhood theories and child development. He sits on many national and early childhood groups and is also a consultant on many aspects of early years and child development. Aaron has spoken as a keynote speaker both nationally and internationally on contemporary issues within the early childhood sector. Aaron has a passion for making the voice of the child, nurturing through a diverse lens and pioneers of early childhood the foreground of practice.

Dr Mine Conkbayir, Founder, Applying Neuroscience to Early Years Intervention: One Practitioner at a Time

Award-winning author, trainer and researcher, Dr Mine Conkbayir has worked in early childhood education and care for 25 years. She is a recipient of the Nursery Management Today Top 5 Most Inspirational People in Childcare Award. Mine passionately bridges the knowledge gap between neuroscience and early years and was a key contributor to the non-statutory guidance, Birth to Five Matters, for the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Education Endowment Foundation’s guidance on the subject of self-regulation.

She wrote the first-ever NCFE Neuroscience in Early Years qualifications and its award-winning accompanying textbook, and created the two times award-winning, free app, the Keep Your Cool Toolbox. Her award-winning book, Early Childhood and Neuroscience, is in its second edition and her latest book, The Neuroscience of the Developing Child: Self-Regulation for Wellbeing and a Sustainable Future, achieved Finalist for the Nursery World Best Professional Book of the Year award.

She is the creator of the Podcast show, ‘I’m ADHD! No You’re Not’, which she hosts with her husband, comedy actor, Paul Whitehouse.

She is Ambassador for Trauma-Informed Schools UK.

Elouise Bishop, Co-Founder, Quint Education

Elouise, a seasoned HR professional with a degree in Human Resource Management, is passionate about connecting talented individuals with rewarding careers in the early years sector. She co-founded Quint Education in November 2014, and since then, the agency has become a leading provider of temporary and permanent staff to nurseries, schools, and childcare settings across London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, and Surrey.

Based in Edgware (HA8), Elouise and her team are dedicated to offering innovative solutions to the challenges faced by the early years industry. With over 20 years of experience in customer service, Elouise is committed to providing exceptional service and building strong relationships with clients and candidates alike.

Emma Jones, Area Director, Busy Bees Childcare

My name is Emma, and I am an Area Director for Busy Bees Childcare. I have worked for Busy Bees for 13 years, starting as a student, completing one of my placements within their Burton branch, to progressing to my current position. I have always had a passion for Early Years and ensuring that each child within our Centre's has access to only the best quality of education, which enables them to have the foundations for lifelong learning. To do this, there must be a focus on our colleagues and fantastic key workers, to ensure they are given all the tools and knowledge to provide expert teaching.  

Faye O'Rouke, Nursery Owner & Social Media Award Winner

Faye is an innovative leader in the Early Years Industry, recognised for her fresh
approach to recruiting and retaining staff.

Driven by a passion and enthusiasm for the Early Years sector, Faye recently took a bold step by opening her own farm day nursery in Esse. Employing a team of 50 staff, she is pioneering new methods of engagement and outreach, particularly through social media and online platforms.

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed; in 2024, she was honoured with Nursery World's Online Social Media Award, highlighting her impactful presence and dedication to the industry.

With her visionary leadership, Faye continues to inspire change and cultivate a
vibrant community for both children and educators alike.

James Hempsall, OBE,l Managing Director, Coram Hempsall

James Hempsall OBE is a prominent figure in the UK children’s services sector. He is the Managing Director of Coram Hempsall’s and the National Director for Childcare Works. With over 30 years of experience, he has been instrumental in driving service improvements and leading national implementation of key government programmes in early years and childcare.

He founded Hempsall’s in 1999, a consultancy and training organisation that supports early years and childcare providers, local authorities, and government departments. Hempsall’s work focuses on tackling inequality and improving opportunities for disadvantaged children and families. in 2023, Hempsall’s joined The Thomas Coram Foundation group to become Coram Hempsall’s. 

James’ contributions have been recognised with an OBE for his services to early years education. His leadership and expertise continue to influence policies and practices, ensuring better outcomes for children across the UK.

Jess O'Brien, Director of Partnerships and Operations, Montessori Global Education

Jess’ professional background spans charities, children’s services and local government, with over 25 years in the third and public sectors. Having started her career in the education department at London Borough of Waltham Forest, Jess’ extensive experience includes leading effective projects, developing collaborative partnerships, and improving the quality of frontline services.

At Samaritans and Terrence Higgins Trust, Jess delivered major projects to improve person-centred emotional support services. She led partnership development and fundraising for a range of children’s services at Barnardo’s, and at Spurgeons, she led the improvement of services for families of fathers in prison at HMP Winchester.

At Montessori Global Education, Jess supports the direction, sustainability and expansion of educational services and high-quality provision, globally. Key partnerships for the organisation include Chartered College of Teaching, NCFE, Bright Start Foundation, HundrED - and a host of early years settings worldwide.

John Warren, Education Manager, Asquith Day Nurseries

John has over 40 years experience within the childcare and education arena, starting out with his NNEB 1983 to his Masters at Sheffield University in 2012.  He has a huge array of experience from his time in the sector, including as a nursery nurse, nursery manager, Family Centre worker and community development worker. After School Club owner, Ofsted inspector, Childcare and Education manager for Asquith Day Nurseries, Head of Quality and Improvement for Fennies Nurseries, and Regional Manager for Kids Unlimited.  John is now a freelance consultant and one of the owner/directors of a bespoke franchise company Toddleworld.

John was twice voted one of the top ten most influential people in childcare and education industry in the UK and is an international speaker and trainer.

June O'Sullivan, OBE, Chief Executive, London Early Years Foundation

Read June’s blog: http://www.leyf.org.uk/blog

As CEO and creator of the UK's leading childcare social enterprise, June continues to break new ground in the development of LEYF's scalable social business model and more recently launching the innovative London Institute of Early Years.

June developed the LEYF Pedagogy for Social Justice and champions community-based, multi-generational early years education as the basis for greater social and cultural capital to deliver long-term social impact. She continues to advise governments as well as a range of organisations, academics and services at home and overseas about how best to implement a social enterprise vision for Early Years.

June is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Trustee of The Book Trust, and her local library, Upper Norwood Library Trust. She is currently a member of the London Mayor’s Advisory Group on Child Healthy Weight and the Mayor’s Skills Partnership Board.

June was awarded an MBE in 2013 for her services to London’s children, and on the 29th September 2023 was awarded an OBE by His Majesty the King for her services to Education.

Lorna Wigley, Quality and Training Director, Childbase Partnership Ltd

Passionate about the value of Early Years care and education and the need for quality training for educators of the very young, Lorna Wigley has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of sector leadership roles.

Director of Quality and Training (UK and International) at employee owned Childbase Partnership, Lorna started her career in a nursery before taking on Management roles, becoming a Freelance Inspector and latterly a Local Authority advisor working closely with Early Years providers in developing strong and effective strategies to achieve best practice.  

An expert in Ofsted inspection preparation, nursery safeguarding and Special Educational Needs, Lorna currently oversees the quality in 44 award-winning day nurseries at Childbase where the benchmark for safe, nurturing environments is extremely high. 

She is also the author of a bespoke curriculum, a range of Childbase parent aid books and is responsible for the training and professional development for over 2,000 employees at the company which tops league tables for quality and parent satisfaction and recommendations.

Childbase Partnership is currently number 1 in the Nursery World league tables for Ofsted inspections. 

Lydia Hopper, CEO, Grandir UK

With a deep-rooted passion for Early Years and Education, I have dedicated my career to shaping the landscape of the learning and development of the teams who are working directly with the children. As a seasoned professional with a comprehensive background in the Early Years sector spanning over 30 years, I have evolved into my current role as the CEO of Grandir UK, driving transformative change and fostering a culture of excellence.

My journey has been one marked by an unwavering commitment to leadership growth and development. I firmly believe that empowering leaders within an organization is pivotal to its success. Through mentorship, strategic guidance, and continuous learning initiatives, I have nurtured a cadre of leaders who are poised to navigate the challenges of the ever-evolving educational sphere.

Inspiring the next generation stands as a cornerstone of my values. I am a firm advocate for providing innovative, inclusive, and empowering early years experiences that lay the foundation for tomorrow's leaders. My tenure in the field has afforded me the privilege of witnessing the transformative power of education in shaping young minds and preparing them to become catalysts for positive change in society.

My dedication to the field of Early Years and Education extends beyond professional boundaries. I actively engage with policymakers, stakeholders, and educational institutions to advocate for policies that promote equitable access to quality education for all, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. 

Marcia Brown, Deputy Operations Director, Busy Bees Nurseries

I have worked in Early Years for over 28 years, initially completing my BTEC National Diploma in Childhood studies and then completing my BA Honours in Early Years. I am passionate about Early Years and achieving the very best outcomes for all children and ensuring that our teams are also highly valued and recognised for the amazing work they do within our sector. I have worked for Busy Bees Day Nurseries for over 26 years and have been leading and managing teams for more than 21 years. Within my current role I am responsible for delivering Excellence across Quality ,Safety and all operational elements for 47 Nurseries with direct responsibility for coaching and leading a team of Area Directors to achieve and exceed performance KPI’s, whilst building effective relationships with stakeholders and ensuring our company ethos is delivered by everyone in every nurseries- of giving children the best Start in Life.

Michelle Harris, Managing Director, Rhymetime, Woodleys and Cherry Blossom Network

Michelle Harris is the Managing Director of the Rhymetime, Woodleys and Cherry Blossom network of eight children’s day nurseries across Northamptonshire, built over 25 years of dedication to early childhood education. Recognised as one of the 20 most influential figures in the industry, Michelle is passionate about upskilling the work force and recently completed a master's in education, proving that education is a lifelong journey. A strong advocate for raising the professional identity of the early years sector, she emphasises the crucial role that Early Educators play as the first ‘baton holders’ in a child’s educational journey. Currently, Michelle is writing a book to support new nursery managers in navigating the unique challenges they face, continuing her mission to empower professionals in the sector. As a mother of three and now a grandmother, she feels an even greater responsibility to ensure that early years education not only survives but thrives and excels for future generations.

Neil Leitch, CEO, Early Years Alliance

Neil joined the Alliance as a volunteer and in 2008, was appointed as its CEO, overseeing its rebrand to the Early Years Alliance in 2019 – a change that reflected its ambition to give a united voice to all involved in caring and educating young children. 

Neil has fronted numerous sector campaigns on fair funding, the mental health of the early years workforce and notably, Rewind on Ratios. He has provided evidence to multiple government inquiries, and played a pivotal role in developing the two-year-old early entitlement offer. 

Neil was recognised in the 2022 New Year Honours list, when he was awarded an OBE for services to education and more recently, an honorary doctorate in education by the University of East London in recognition of his tireless advocacy for the early years sector.  

He remains a powerful voice for the sector, fighting to ensure early years is recognised as an integral part of our national education system.

Sacha Powell, Chief Executive Officer, The Froebel Trust

Sacha Powell is Chief Executive Officer of The Froebel Trust. She oversees the organisation's charitable activities, which include grant-giving for research and practice development, subsidised training, and free Early Years resources and events. Sacha has a PhD in Early Childhood Education and was previously a university professor and research centre director. For ten years, she co-led the Baby Room Project and managed its annual conferences. Sacha often speaks at national and international events and is the author of more than 50 education publications. Her newest book is published by Bloomsbury in spring 2025: Pedagogies of Care with One-Year-Olds, co-authored with colleagues in USA, New Zealand and Hong Kong. 

Sarah Ellis, Business Development Director, Early Years Alliance

I began my career over 30 years ago volunteering in a baby and toddler group, and have moved through many different roles in the sector. I worked as a Pre-school manager in a voluntary managed setting before joining the Early Years Alliance as a Pre-school development worker and a tutor giving, advice, support and guidance to early years providers.

I now lead the Alliance's business development team as their Business Development Director, which is a varied and rewarding role, leading on a number of projects supporting children and families in some of the most deprived areas of England, the development of accredited CPD training to our members, and finding new ways to work with partners to further support the sector.

As a long-time supporter of the magazine, I am delighted to be part of the Nursery World Advisory board in this their centenary year.

Sarah Sanger, Founder, The Woodentops Nurseries

Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge from over 25 years both inside and outside the education sector, with a background in finance, strategy and research before moving into Early Years. Sarah began her career working in strategy consulting, first for Arthur Andersen and then for Bain & Company in London. 

After a decade of consulting she returned to her roots of Early Years, having grown up in a teaching household with a kindergarten in the front room.  Sarah established The Woodentops Nurseries nearly 15 years ago with a vision to bring the highest quality of education to the youngest children in her local community.  She has overseen the growth of the nursery business and also The White House Prep School, her family school, which remains the only wholly proprietor owned school in South London. 

Sarah works closely with the local authority on various early years sub-groups and is the South London chair for the NDNA network.  Sarah is delighted to be supporting the Nursery World show and this is her second year on the advisory board.  Woodentops is passionate about creating independent, curious learners and Sarah strongly believes that supporting colleagues to deliver their individual missions is a crucial part of driving excellence in early years education.

Dr Sue Allingham, Independent Early Years Consultant

‘An inspirational trainer who listens’

@DrSue22

Sue started as a teacher, finally becoming a Senior Early Years Lead in a Primary School and Lead Teacher for her Local Authority.  Moving into research Sue gained an MA then a Doctorate, both in Early Childhood Education, from Sheffield University.   This led to becoming a Local Authority Early Years Adviser enabling her to develop her practice working with provision across the EYFS.   As an Independent Consultant, Author and Trainer, Sue is known for her practical style of working through coaching, mentoring, modelling, training and working alongside teams to develop practice and provision.

Her interests in teaching and learning have led to work on emotional and physical environments that will support informed teaching and learning through an understanding of neuroscience and physical development

As a member of the Editorial Board of EYE (Early Years Educator) her writing is familiar to many and she has written two books that support practice across the Early Years and into Key Stage One – Transitions in the Early Years and Emotional Literacy in the Early Years. 

Matt Arnerich, Senior Director of Brand and Comms, Famly

Matt Arnerich is Famly's Sr. Director of Brand and Comms, looking after the way the UK's biggest Early Childhood Platform tells their story, and supports the EY sector along the way. He is the writer of Famly's inaugural 'Respect the Sector' report, and the producer of their 2021 Documentary 'The EYFS Tracking Lie. He has always found writing about himself in the third person for these bios a bit weird.