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Early Years Side by Side Core Group Meeting
You are invited to join us on Friday 17th April 2026 at our Early Years Side by Side Core Group meeting at The Gateway in Aylesbury to celebrate the achievements of the PiP groups from across all of Buckinghamshire.
Over the past seven years, we have shared a meaningful journey—working side by side to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families. Together, we have provided vital support to those most at risk of missing out on the opportunities and experiences they need to thrive.
Through collaboration, we have exchanged successful strategies and focused our efforts on key areas where we know we can make the greatest impact.
Each of you plays a crucial role in the support systems that have been—and continue to be—essential to your local communities. Your dedication has transformed the experiences of many vulnerable children and families across Buckinghamshire. You have created safe, nurturing environments where children can play, learn, and grow together.
Today is a celebration of everything you have achieved.
We invite you to attend either the morning or afternoon session and enjoy - connect with one another, have fun, learn something new, and embrace fresh experiences. Together, we continue to shape lifelong outcomes for our children.
Morning session
09:30 - 10:30 Speaker: Emma Neal
10:35 - 10:55 Marketplace and Networking
11:00 - 11:45 Workshop
Afternoon session
12:30 - 13:30 Speaker: Emma Neal
13:30 - 13:45 Marketplace and networking
13:45 - 14:30 Workshop
Thank you to everyone who helped bring this event to life. Your contributions are deeply appreciated.
We will be joined by a special guest speaker Emma Neal the Director of Evidenced Education Ltd.
Emma Neal is the Director of Evidenced Education Ltd and a nationally respected consultant in Early Years and Primary education.
With nearly three decades of experience in senior leadership, headship, and inclusion, she specialises in evidence-informed practice and sustainable school improvement - working nationally with schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, nurseries, and local authorities to strengthen leadership, curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment, and inclusive practice from birth to the end of Key Stage 1. Emma’s passion for helping educators understand the “reason why” behind what they do inspires teams to create schools where children truly achieve, believe, and care.
Emma will be exploring the role of play within high-quality learning environments, creating engaged children who love learning and showing what they can do and confident staff who understand the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of teaching, learning, and play.
Once you have confirmed your place, you will receive a delegate guide which will contain an MS Form link to select your workshop booking.
This will enable you to select one option from the following four workshops:
Workshop 1: Play, Learn, Thrive: Outdoor Strategies for Early Years
Workshop 2: Supporting EAL Children in the Early Years
Workshop 3: Implementing Gross and Fine Motor Skills to Support Early Writing Development
Workshop 4: Creating Inspiring, Child‑Centred Learning Environments
Bespoke PiP 3 - How does Outdoor Provision support Children's language, social and physical development
Special guest trainer Professor Helen Bilton
Bespoke training for the members of PiP3 only. Please refer to your invitation email to reserve your place using the provided promotion code.
Outdoors can be seen as a place for physical development only, where children run around, have a bit of fresh air to return to inside to do something more important. The outdoor teaching and learning environment can be the central place for developing children’s communication skills, alongside social and physical. But it has to be organised and managed appropriately to ensure this happens.
Professor Helen Bilton is a leading educational specialist with an international reputation for her work on the outdoor teaching and learning environment. She is a passionate and inspirational teacher and a sought after keynote speaker. She has written and published numerous papers and research-led textbooks bringing practice and theory together for researchers and practitioners in the field. Her first book, published in 1998, is now in its third edition: Outdoor Learning in the Early Years. Management and Innovation.
Helen believes in a holistic approach to education. Additionally, she is knowledgeable about health and education, managing behaviour, and the role of the adult in settings, which has led to being the Lead Educator on several, successful online courses.