We’re delighted to be presenting a series of sessions at the 2024 Bright Start International Conference – Early Years Excellence in Practice. The conference – co-organised between Bright Start Foundation and University College London (UCL) – will be hosted both online and in-person at UCL East in London, from November 22-24 2024.
This fully hybrid event will engage participants in early years quality improvement, facilitate deep reflective practice, and enhance individual professional learning and development. Our sessions, on November 23, feature under the theme Montessori’s Vision in Action. We encourage you to join us as we share innovations and insights to help unlock potential, dispel misperceptions and convey real-world Montessori Moments.
You can view the day-by-day conference programme here. Our sessions – with speaker announcements coming very soon – include:
The Value of Opportunity: Seeing Potential in Every Montessori Moment Panel Discussion
Join our speakers and hear how every learning experience can be seen through a Montessori lens, and how the Montessori approach can impact the daily lives of families and communities – presenting challenge and inspiration as opportunities for future growth. In this facilitated discussion session, our panel will share insights and experiences to illustrate the vast, varied opportunities that can be presented to our young people. When prepared appropriately and sensitively within a framework of Montessori principles and its backdrop of a well-rounded philosophy, the Montessori approach delivers some astounding and significant outcomes.
Speakers: Preeti Patel – Director of Education and Community at Montessori Global Education and Marvin Reyes – Organisational Director and Head at Vincerola Academy
Addressing and Overcoming Misperceptions Workshop
Join our speakers as they share some of the common challenges faced by Montessori enthusiasts of today. Attendees will learn how we encourage myth-busting practices and challenge any unsustainable models of delivery for responsive, modern Montessori practice.
Speakers: Dr June Fileti, Managing Director at International School of Musicians, Jayde Davies Researcher and Montessorian, and Karen Chetwynd, CEO at Montessori Global Education
Ongoing school evolution to raise ambitions Workshop
Our speakers for this workshop session will share how innovative approaches can make all the difference for the whole school community, and invite participation from attendees.
Speakers: Preeti Patel, Director of Education and Community, Montessori Global Education and Marvin Reyes, Organisational Director and Head at Vincerola Academy in Germany
Home-Start and how volunteer networks foster community connection Workshop
Our speakers for this workshop session will share how an innovative partnership approach to local, connected family support makes all the difference for children and families.
Speakers: Hayley Williams, Family Support Co-ordinator at Home-Start West Somerset and Karen Chetwynd, CEO, Montessori Global Education
Successes and innovations – How Montessorians’ varied careers make a difference in their communities Workshop
Our speakers for this workshop session will share how studying Montessori provides a springboard to a variety of meaningful professional journeys.
Speakers: Jess O’Brien, Director of Partnerships and Operations and Jo McIntrye, STAR Co-ordinator – Montessori Global Education
Meeting the challenge of taking, sustaining and promoting your early years brand, ethos and vision Interactive Workshop
Join this session and hear about tackling the challenge of taking, sustaining and promoting an ethos, brand or vision in the pressured world of early years education. Our speaker will share about unlocking barriers, and reaping the benefits of perseverance.
Speaker: Geeta Sidhu-Robb – Chair of Montessori St Nicholas and Founder & CEO of WCorp and Nosh Detox
How can I get involved?
We want to ensure our conference activities include as many of you possible. There are three ways you can get involved:
1. Book your place and attend the conference (in-person, or online), here.
In October, Montessori Network members can take advantage of a special discount offer! For details, and to access the discount code, simply log into your Network account (or join today! Sign up is free and takes just two minutes), then click on the Discount for Network Members post.
2. Send your questions and reflections on any of our session topics direct to our speakers, at network@montessori.org.uk. Your insights will help us include what really matters to you.
