Early years and childcare learning week 2025

Online

Join Leo Holmes as he presents the Early Years Wales’ ‘movement champion’ campaign. We’ll hear how it helps children across Wales gain the developmental benefits of regular movement.

The presentation will cover the reality of how, as a society, we’re becoming more inactive and relying more on digital technology. This is having a significant negative impact on the development of children, contributing to rising physical and mental health concerns, such as a significant rise in children being diagnosed with myopia and presenting as nonverbal in early years settings.

The session will discuss how adults can become movement role models for the children in their care. This means taking on more regular movement in their own lives and giving children the opportunity to move and play during the day.

Speaker

Leo Holmes, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Early Years Wales:

Leo has a background of working in the charity sector and politics, and cares deeply about importance of social justice and equality of opportunity. Leo has a degree in Politics and International Relations from Cardiff University, and after a brief career in politics, he transitioned to the third sector, where he pursued his passion of charity work.

Leo's connection with the early years stems from his father, who ran a children's centre in his home town. Leo was inspired by the support and sense of community associated with his father’s work and was devastated when the centre’s funding was cut.

Online

Join us to explore how the Welsh Promise can support you to increase how much Welsh is used in your setting. We’ll look at how through breaking things down to manageable bite-sized sections, you can show you’re working towards the Active Offer.

Whether your setting is starting from scratch or you’re already using some Welsh, the bronze, silver and gold levels will allow your setting to use Welsh in a way that’s appropriate for you. We’ll also give an overview of why ‘immersing’ children in the Welsh language, or giving meaningful experiences using only Welsh, is an effective way to help children learn and develop their Welsh language skills

Speakers

Lou Stevens Jones

Lou Stevens Jones is the national project manager for ‘Croesi’r Bont’, Mudiad Meithrin’s language immersion scheme, and  Clebran, Mudiad Meithrin’s Welsh language support scheme for English medium early years settings.

Lou’s role includes managing a national team of language officers, and coordinating training opportunities on the language immersion method for the Cylchoedd Meithrin and Welsh medium primary schools.

Originally a business graduate, Lou retrained in childcare and worked as an early years practitioner for seven years. Lou has worked for  Mudiad Meithrin in a variety of roles since 2006.

Sian James   

Sian is the Lead Welsh Language Childcare Business Development Officer for Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs. She currently leads on the organisation’s CYMell and Work Welsh projects with a team of Welsh language childcare business development officers who support the out of school childcare workforce to increase the use of Welsh in childcare and playwork settings.  

Sian has worked in the childcare and playwork sector for the past 17 years.  This started as a part time job around her studies which then turned into a full-time career supporting other childcare workers. A qualified teacher, Sian also has a degree in Education Studies and Social Inclusion and is Level 3 Playwork qualified.   

Online

This session will focus on how values-based and strengths-based approaches shape our everyday practice in early years and childcare. Through reflection and discussion, we’ll look at how personal and organisational values influence our work, what ‘soft skills’ are, and how these insights can support meaningful self-evaluation - particularly in preparation for Care Inspectorate Wales’ Quality of Care review in 2026.

Speaker

Jay Goulding, Social Care Wales

Jay is an engagement and development officer at Social Care Wales, where he helps organisations adopt and embed strengths-based practices, including the collaborative communications programme.

Since qualifying as a social worker in 2003 and later training in systemic family therapy, Jay has held roles such as consultant social worker and performance and development manager for multi-disciplinary teams, including an integrated family support team.

In his current role, Jay champions the knowledge, skills, and values of compassionate, collaborative practice, making sure citizens have “voice, choice, and control.” By promoting strengths-based approaches and compassionate leadership, he supports organisations to foster positive cultures that enhance workforce well-being and improve outcomes for all.

Online

This session will look at the importance of compassion for improving outcomes, staff well-being and organisational culture.

What we’ll cover?

In this session, we’ll

• learn about the four behaviours of compassionate leadership

• understand the difference compassionate leadership can make

• discuss practical ways you can use the principles of compassionate leadership for yourself.

Speakers

Bex Steen, Leadership Development Officer, Social Care Wales

With over 22 years of frontline leadership experience in social care, Bex brings expertise and unwavering passion to her role. At Social Care Wales, she leads initiatives to embed compassionate leadership across the sector.

Bex is the driving force behind a programme designed to foster a culture of compassion; helping social care professionals feel effective, valued, and motivated. Her work not only strengthens the workforce but also enhances the quality of care for those they support.

Outside of her professional achievements, Bex is known for her genuine commitment to making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

Online

The session will look at careers within early years and childcare. It will consider the current routes available to the workforce, focusing on progression opportunities and continual professional development. We’ll hear stories of progression and give a flavour of the variety of roles available within the sector.

Speakers

Sam Greatbanks, Engagement and Development Officer, Social Care Wales

Sam is an engagement and development officer at Social Care Wales. Her role includes the Pathways to Childcare programme, an integral part of this is promoting and encouraging careers within early years and childcare.

Sam has worked within early years, childcare and family support for more than 25 years. She’s a qualified and experienced early years and childcare practitioner and manager and has experience within a number of roles within the sector. Sam is passionate about early years and childcare careers and the vital, rewarding and valuable role of the childcare workforce.

Sam Thomas, Engagement and Development Lead Officer, Social Care Wales

Sam leads initiatives to attract and support new staff to the social care sector through training, resource development, and sector engagement.

With a background in policing, specialising in domestic abuse and child protection, Sam moved into social care over 22 years ago. She’s a registered social worker with experience in adult mental health and child protection.

Her areas of expertise include domestic abuse, modern slavery, female genital mutilation, and safeguarding.

Sam also serves as a Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP) for Social Care Wales.

Sam loves to travel and is a published author.

Online

In this session, we'll explore anti-racism in the childcare sector, drawing on both personal and professional experiences. We'll look at how discrimination can show up in subtle and obvious ways in early years settings, and how we can create environments where every child feels valued, safe, and included.

The playwork principles and core values emphasise the need to remove barriers to participation by upholding every child’s right to play and valuing the diversity of children’s cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. We'll share real-life examples, practical strategies, and creative ideas that you can adapt for your own childcare setting. We'll discuss challenges, reflect on our practice, and work on promoting fairness, respect, and belonging for all children and families.

Speakers

Sarah Sharpe

Sarah is a dedicated childminder based in the Vale of Glamorgan, with a strong passion for creating inclusive, nurturing environments for young children. Sarah holds a Foundation Degree in Child Care Learning and Development and is proud to be both Schema Play accredited and Hygge in the early years accredited. In May 2025, Sarah was honoured to receive the WeCare Wales Accolades award, recognising the impact of her work in early years education.

Married with two adult children, Sarah brings both personal and professional experience to her role. After completing the DARPL (Diversity and Anti-Racist Professional Learning) enhanced leadership series, Sarah took meaningful steps to enhance her setting. Sarah introduced Tirion, a gender-neutral teddy bear with a cochlear implant, to help children celebrate differences. She also placed a stronger emphasis on feelings and well-being. These changes were recognised during a CIW inspection, where Sarah was described as a “childminder transforming early years education” and recognised as practice worth sharing on their website.

Sarah hopes to give inspiration and practical ideas to support others in developing an anti-racist approach in their own settings, helping to build a fairer future for all children.

Dawn Bunn, National Training Manager, Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids' Clubs

Dawn has worked with children since the age of 16, gaining experience across a wide range of roles with children aged nought to 12. Although playwork wasn’t her original career path, after working at a holiday club where her mother worked, helping to meet staffing ratios, she’s never looked back.

In her current role, she focuses on promoting and leading playwork training across Wales. She also contributes to anti-racist training in the sector, as part of the work of CWLWM partners. She’s passionate about building a more inclusive Wales and understands its importance not only for children and playworkers, but for the wider community as well.

Online

Have you ever gone home from work with a heavy feeling in your chest, not because of what happened, but because of what should have happened, and didn’t? Maybe you followed the rules, but it still didn’t feel right. That quiet, unsettled feeling has a name - moral injury.

In this engaging and reflective session, we’ll explore what moral injury is and why recognising it matters for everyone working in early years. Whether you’re a student preparing for your first placement, a practitioner juggling real-life challenges, or a leader responsible for team well-being, this session offers something for you.

We’ll look at how moral injury shows up in practice and why it can wear away our resilience, compassion and connection if left silent. Most importantly, we’ll share ways to notice it early, talk about it safely, and support you and others through it. We’ll also examine why embedding these practices are an important building block for strengthening well-being and resilience in our sector.

You’ll leave with greater clarity, compassion, and practical tools for yourself, your team, and the families you serve.

Speaker

Kat Applewhite, Chief Executive Officer of Here2There

With a career dedicated to developing people and supporting values-driven practice, Kat is a Level 7 Executive Coach and experienced consultant specialising in workforce development, coaching, and reflective practice. Her work in early years services in Wales has focused on empowering professionals to handle tough emotional and ethical challenges in their roles.

As the Chief Executive Officer of Here2There (H2T), she leads an organisation that designs human-centred technology and gives expert consultancy to help people and organisations connect, progress, and thrive. At the heart of her work is a deep commitment to well-being, authentic connection and showing the voices of those who are often unheard.

She’s also the founder of WellNuts Parents, a community that supports families and professionals through shared understanding and resilience-building. Her approach blends insight, empathy, and innovation, making space for honest reflection about what it means to love, care, educate and stay well when supporting children with additional needs and trauma backgrounds.

Online

'Your well-being matters' - Permission to prioritise yourself.

This is an introduction to the idea of prioritising ourselves so we can be effective in our work roles. You’ll hear about research done in 2025 that highlights the state of mental health of people working in early years and childcare.

In the session we’ll give you a ‘toolkit’ of techniques that focus on decreasing stress and anxiety, lifting your mood and increasing your resilience, coping and well-being. There’ll be an opportunity to share your own experiences and ideas with others.

Speakers

Kate Newman, Workforce Well-being Manager, Social Care Wales

Kate is Social Care Wales’s Health and Well-being Development Manager. Kate’s role involves sharing information about what well-being at work means, why it’s important and how we can make a difference to supporting well-being at work.

Before working for Social Care Wales, Kate worked across the public, private and third sector in roles covering community health development, public health commissioning, partnerships and relationships. 

Leo Holmes, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Early Years Wales

Leo has a background of working in the charity sector and politics, and cares deeply about importance of social justice and equality of opportunity. Leo has a degree in Politics and International Relations from Cardiff University, and after a brief career in politics, he moved into the third sector, where he pursued his passion for charity work. Leo's connection with the early years stems from his father, who ran a children's centre in his home town. Leo was inspired by the support and sense of community associated with his father’s work and was devastated when the centre’s funding was cut.

Online

This session introduces the Social Care Wales Insight Collective website, focusing on the Research, Innovation and Improvement (RII) Skills Resource. Designed to support the development of RII skills across the social care workforce, the resource helps reduce common barriers such as time, funding, and navigating a complex landscape.

Attendees will explore how the RII skills resource can be applied to their own practice, with practical examples and guidance.

Speakers

Dr Kate Howson, Research Partnerships Manager, Social Care Wales

Kate leads efforts to strengthen the use of research in social care practice and policy. With a background in social research and a PhD focused on intergenerational relationships in care homes, Kate brings a deep understanding of how meaningful connections and evidence-based approaches can improve outcomes across ages.

Kate works closely with researchers, organisations, and practitioners across Wales to support the use of research, identify opportunities for working together, and build research skills in the workforce. Her work makes sure that research is accessible and responsive to the needs of those delivering and receiving care.

Kate is passionate about connecting people of all ages and believes strong relationships are key to learning and improvement. Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors, music, exercise, and spending time with friends and family.

Alison Kulkowski, Innovation Partnerships Manager, Social Care Wales

Alison leads initiatives to support innovation in social care practice and policy at Social Care Wales. With over 20 years of experience across social care and higher education, Alison has successfully led the development and delivery of strategies, policies, and projects that support improvement and innovation.

Alison is passionate about working collaboratively to create positive change and believes that strong, trusting relationships are at the heart of successful teams and projects.