Stronger Together: Business Growth & Leadership for Early Years Providers

Date & Time: 04th November | 10:00 - 11:30

This interactive workshop offers entry-level insight into Diversity and Inclusion, supporting delegates to build fair and inclusive work environments.

Throughout the session, attendees will explore key themes in the context of Early Years settings:

·       The benefits of DEIB in Early Years organisations

·       Legal frameworks and responsibilities, including the Equality Act, discrimination, and positive action

·       Moving towards fairness and equity of treatment

·       Implicit human bias – the positives and negatives of human nature

Attendees are encouraged to comment and ask questions as topics arise, and will leave with practical ideas they can implement in their own environments.

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Delivered by:

Adrian Bird, Head of Aspire in Partnership

Adrian is the Head of Aspire in Partnership, an inclusive recruitment service funded and delivered by the Growth Company. The service supports organisations in diversifying their workforces and delivering on social value commitments & objectives. He has over 10 years of experience supporting individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in gaining sustainable employment.

Date & Time: 11th November | 10:00 - 11:15

Supporting Compliance, Planning, and Communication in Line with EYFS 2025

Join us this October for a live webinar designed specifically for Early Years leaders, managers, and practitioners in England who want to explore the practical benefits of using ChatGPT in their settings.

With the revised EYFS Statutory Framework now in effect (from 1 September 2025), this timely session will demonstrate how AI can support you with curriculum planning, policy writing, parent communication, and inspection readiness – all while saving valuable time.

This structured and supportive webinar will show you how to use AI to:

• Plan EYFS-aligned activities with clear learning intentions and inclusive adaptations

• Create or update safeguarding and operational policies in line with the new requirement

• Promote your setting and communicate effectively with families

• Write job descriptions, CPD prompts, and staff induction tools

• Support the rollout of new consumables policies and safer eating procedures

You’ll see live demonstrations, take part in interactive polls, and have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A. You’ll also receive a downloadable Prompt Library to support implementation after the session.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to deepen your use of AI, this session will equip you with practical, real-world examples tailored to Early Years practice under the new EYFS framework.

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Delivered by:

Jo Whitehead, Business Advisor – Growth, GM Business Growth Hub

Date & Time: 18th November | 10:00 - 11:30

In Greater Manchester (GM), we strive to give every child the best start in life, recognising that our diverse early years workforce is key to unlocking their potential. This workforce includes professionals from Early Education and Childcare, Health services, Early Help services, Local Authority roles, and the Voluntary sector, all playing vital roles in planning and delivering services for children and families.

To support this workforce, GMCA has developed GM REFLECT, a competency framework designed to enhance skills, promote integrated working, and provide access to further training and professional development. GM REFLECT focuses on developing leadership at all levels, ensuring a cohesive approach to early years education and care.

Join our webinar to learn about GM REFLECT and its benefits for your early years setting. GMCA colleagues will provide background and context, outline the framework's components, and demonstrate how early years leaders can use these assets to strengthen practice. Attendees will also hear case studies and strategies on fostering high-quality care, teamwork, and continuous improvement, as well as tips on leading with confidence, inspiring staff, and building a positive culture.

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Delivered by:

Jane Gardiner, School Readiness Project Manager, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

Jane is the School Readiness Project Manager at Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). With a background in sport and physical activity, she has spent the past 18 months leading work across the GM School Readiness Programme. Jane collaborates with early years leads and practitioners across the city region to develop innovative projects that aim to improve outcomes for young children. Her work supports the ambition that every child in Greater Manchester starts school ready to learn and thrive.

Jan Robinson, Early Years Consultant, Jan Robinson Early Years ltd.com

Jan is an experienced early years consultant and founder of Jan Robinson Early Years Ltd. She has worked in nursery and primary schools, held leadership roles within local authorities, and supported families across the early years sector. Jan is currently Chair of Governors at a maintained nursery school and daycare centre. Her qualifications include a B.Ed. (Hons), a Postgraduate Diploma in Language Development, an MA in Early Childhood Studies, and the NPQICL. Since retiring from local authority work in 2019, she has focused on consultancy, currently working with GMCA to lead the development of GM REFLECT.

Date & Time: 25th November | 10:00 - 12:00

Values-led organisations are successful because they are living, breathing cultures of shared values. They don’t just talk the talk, they walk it!

That authenticity builds trust, encourages commitment, and creates cultures where people are motivated to perform well and want to belong.

Join us for this interactive webinar session, where we will explore how to align your organisation's vision, purpose, and values to ensure that your core values are not just stated, but actively embedded in everyday behaviours, decisions, interactions, and relationships.

You will discover the real Power of Values to motivate and guide our behaviours, explore the key components and drivers of organisational culture, and gain ideas for redefining and refreshing your values.

You will also come away with a range of practical tools and techniques for you to apply in your leadership role to embed values more deeply into your organisation’s culture.

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Delivered by

Jo Lord, Leadership, Skills and Social Impact, GM Business Growth Hub

Jo is a Leadership, Skills, and Social Impact specialist at GM Business Growth Hub. She is an experienced organisational development professional, leadership specialist, and coach, with over 25 years of experience working across private, public, and third-sector organisations in a wide range of industries. Jo specialises in delivering leadership and culture change programmes for both large and small organisations, helping them adopt a values-led approach to leadership and people development.

With a background in learning and development, as well as economic and community regeneration, Jo is passionate about supporting organisations to build the capacity of their leaders. Her work focuses on creating meaningful and lasting change that improves performance, raises aspirations, and helps teams achieve the ambitions of their organisation and the communities they serve.

Date & Time: 20th January | 10:00 - 11:30

This 90-minute, instructor-led session is tailored for staff and managers working in Early Years settings, including nurseries and pre-schools. The training is designed to transform your team into your strongest line of defence against cyber threats by equipping them with the practical knowledge to identify, report, and prevent malicious activity before it causes data loss or reputational harm.

This interactive virtual session includes live polls and Q&A opportunities to maximise engagement and ensure all staff queries are addressed. Attendees will also receive take-away materials and actionable steps to immediately integrate cyber-safe practices into their daily operations.

What to expect:

This session will use real-world scenarios to help attendees understand and respond to cyber threats in Early Years settings. Clear, practical guidance will be provided across the following key areas:

• Protecting Access - Learn how to safeguard sensitive child records and systems through strong password practices and the use of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

• Recognising Threats - Understand the types of cyber-attacks that target educational environments, such as Phishing, Spear Phishing, and Ransomware, and explore their potential impact on daily operations.

• Digital Habits & Hygiene - Discover the importance of keeping devices, software, and applications up to date to patch vulnerabilities. Gain tips for staying secure on social media and recognising social engineering tactics aimed at staff.

• Consequences & Policy - Explore the full range of consequences of a cyberattack, including operational disruption, financial loss, and reputational damage. Discover how robust Cybersecurity policies support staff compliance and safeguarding responsibilities.

Register your place

Delivered by:

Morgan Oakes, Cyber Security Consultant, North West Cyber Resilience Centre

Morgan is a Cyber Security Consultant at the North West Cyber Resilience Centre. With a first-class honours degree in cyber security and a particular interest in supply chain security, Morgan brings a fresh and insightful perspective to the field.

Alongside academic excellence, Morgan has gained valuable industry experience and now leads key activities, including security awareness training and network vulnerability assessments. His problem-solving approach has helped improve the cyber resilience of small and medium-sized businesses across the North West, reducing threats and fostering safer digital environments.