< Early Years Conference >
2024 / 12 / 07
BIBS Upper East Side campus
End
We are extremely honored by your attendance
and look forward to your visit.
We’re excited to announce the first annual Early Years Conference, in collaboration with Early Years Specialists, hosted by Beanstalk Education Group and Centre of Future Education) In a world of uncertainty, it’s vital to prepare our youngest learners for the future. This 2024 event will bring together national and international organisations to redefine early childhood education through innovation and collaboration.
Gather together
communicate with each other
release inner vitality and dreams
At the heart of the conference
is our mission to establish a network
for professionals to connect,
share ideas, and collaborate
on improving education for children aged 0-6.
Attendees will gain access
to continuous professional development,
inspirational speakers,
and practical workshops aimed
at enhancing skills and knowledge.
Early Education:
100 Years of Excellence in Early Childhood
Established in 1923 as the Nursery School Association, Early Education has been dedicated to supporting families and advancing the professional development of those working in early childhood education for over a century. Their mission remains to ensure that every child experiences the highest quality early education.
As advocates for improving early childhood education policy, they represent their members’ concerns to the government, engage with policymakers, and campaign to raise awareness of critical issues in the sector. Through project work, they trial new approaches and share best practices to drive progress and innovation across early childhood education.
Centre for Research
in Early Childhood (CREC)
A Leader in Early Years Research and Education for Over 25 Years. The Centre for Research in Early Childhood (CREC) has been dedicated to enhancing Early Years provision for over 25 years.
Located in the UK, CREC specialises in early childhood research that drives impactful changes in both practice and policy. Many of our research findings are transformed into tailored training and development programmes for the Early Years sector. They also offer undergraduate and postgraduate research degrees, providing opportunities for in-depth study and professional growth. CREC has collaborated with local authorities, and international organisations around the world.
Global Leader in
Early Childhood Development
Originating from the UK, Baby Sensory is a global leader in early childhood development, offering award-winning programs for babies from birth to 13 months. Through sensory-rich activities like music, movement, and visual stimulation, Baby Sensory supports cognitive, physical, and emotional growth, laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Developed by experts, these sessions create magical moments for families, fostering growth and connection in the early years.
Speech from Ministry of Education
Breakout Sessions & Panel Discussions
Sally Jaeckle OBE
(Reggio/EYFS/Art & Language)
John Mc Bryde
Karen O’Connell
(How Learning Environments Support Future Education)
Joe White
(Physical Development in Early Years)
Jenny Zheng
(Focus on 0-3)
Education Consultant
Early Years Specialist
UK Early Education Board Advisor
Until recently, Sally Jaeckle was the Head of Early Years Services in Bristol. She has worked extensively as an early years teacher and head teacher in both the United States and the UK, as well as a lecturer in early childhood studies in Further and Higher Education and an Early Years Adviser. From 2003 to 2010, Sally was the National Strategies Senior Regional Adviser for Early Years in the South West, where she contributed to the development of the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory guidance and resources. Sally is also a Reggio Emilia expert and has organised visits to Reggio for early years professionals. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to improving the quality of provision for children from birth to five, advocating for the importance of creative thinking and approaches to learning. She is passionate about collaborating with colleagues in health, education, and social care to develop integrated services that support families and give every child, especially those facing challenges, the best start in life. In 2015, Sally was awarded an OBE for her services to Early Education.
BIEG CEO
Education Consultant
John McBryde is an international educational leader with over 40 years of experience. He is a founder of ACAMIS and has served on the boards of education groups such as EARCOS and ACAMIS. He has worked in Beijing for 18 years including nine years as Director of Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) and CEO of Beanstalk International Bilingual School (BIBS).He has worked on international accreditation projects with the Council of International Schools (CIS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and has received a number of prestigious awards including from CIS for his service to international education and a Foreign Expert Award by Beijing government for his special contributions to education in China.John’s current interests include education reform in the age of disruption and learning spaces that support flexible learning.
BIEG Consultant
School Leader
Karen O’Connell, an Australian with over 40 years in education, has served as a teacher, consultant, researcher, principal, and head of school both nationally and internationally. Her international career started in 1999 at the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), where she was the Elementary Principal/Deputy Director for 12 years. Karen then moved to Jakarta's Sinarmas World Academy as Deputy Head of School. In 2013, she joined the United World College South East Asia (UWCSEA) as the Primary School Principal. In 2017, Karen returned to Beijing to work for Origins Education, leading the establishment of new bilingual schools like Innova Early Years Centers and Innova Academy. All schools Karen worked in were IB-accredited.Since transitioning to international schools, Karen has been actively involved in their accreditation processes, participating in and leading accreditation visits. She holds degrees from the University of South Australia and Bath University in the UK and has completed the International Leadership Management Programme (ILMP) through Fieldwork in the UK. Karen has returned to BIEG as a consultant to support Kindergartens and Elementary Schools. A visionary leader passionate about student learning and international mindedness, Karen is highly motivated, experienced in school development, and values-driven.
Principal and PYP Consultant for BIK
Honourary Chairman for British Chamber SW China
Joe White, from Bristol, UK, holds a Master in Educational Leadership with distinction, a PGCE, and an IBEC. With 15 years of experience in education and leadership, he is the Honourary Chairman for the British Chamber of Commerce SW China committee, fostering international collaboration in education. Joe developed Southwest China’s first rugby-based educational programme for children aged 2-12, combining physical education with character-building activities. He co-founded Bright Stars Day Care Centre and BC Lion, engaging over 100,000 participants through sport, art, and education. A former Vice Principal in Chengdu, Joe now resides in Beijing and advises education committees on holistic development using evidence-based practices from both the UK and China. He aims to create internationally-minded learning communities that nurture confident, capable, and compassionate learners.
President of WOW Baby Sensory, China Region
Birmingham and nearly 20 years in early childhood care management, Jenny Zheng leads the way in China’s infant care and early education sector. Passionate about medical-education integration, Jenny partners with healthcare and educational institutions to develop top-tier talent programs. She successfully managed national infant care projects with the University of Cumbria, creating demonstration bases across multiple provinces. Her mission is to elevate care standards and foster innovative talent pathways, working closely with government agencies to establish a sustainable talent supply chain for the industry.
We are extremely honored by your attendance
and look forward to your visit.