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    • Programme at a Glance
    • Register
    • Programme
    • Partner
    • Voices of Children
    • 2024 Publications
  • Home
  • Programme at a Glance
  • Register
  • Programme
  • Partner
  • Voices of Children
  • 2024 Publications

Early Years Excellence in Practice: 

Championing Inclusion, and Social Justice in Early Childhood & Primary Education  

Early Years Excellence in Practice: 

Championing Inclusion, and Social Justice in Early Childhood & Primary Education  

Annual International Conference on Early Childhood

November 13 -15, 2025

🌍 From London & Abu Dhabi to the World

A Global Gathering in Early Childhood Education Like Never Before!

The 2025 Bright Start International Conference is more than just an event—it's a global movement dedicated to advancing early childhood & primary education for children aged 0–8 years through collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise. This year, we are expanding our reach like never before, hosting the conference simultaneously in two major cities—London, United Kingdom, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates—while also live-streaming worldwide! 

This year’s conference features three distinct tracks:

🔹 A. AI and the Future of Learning in Early Childhood & Primary Education

🔹 B.  Montessori Vision in Action – In Partnership with Montessori Global Education

🔹 C. Autism & Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) 

The  Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) – the largest higher education institution in the UAE – is renowned for its leadership in applied and technological education. HCT will host the conference at its Abu Dhabi campus running in parallel with the event in London.

CERTIFICATES OF ATTENDANCE & ACCREDITATION

The 2025 Bright Start International Conference has been accredited by the CPD International Accreditation Organisation (United Kingdom) with 150 CPD credits. Attendees will receive details on how to download their certificates following the conference.

👉 Explore the Programme at a Glance — your quick guide to sessions in Abu Dhabi, London, and online

Programme at a Glance

AI Play Forum: A Global Think Tank – Building the Foundations of AI Literacies

''How can we empower young children to understand and shape artificial intelligence through play – now and into the future?''

An integral part of the Evolving Voices of Children Pedagogy™ (2025–2030).

 The AI Play Forum invites educators, researchers, curriculum designers, policy makers and innovators from around the world to imagine how AI can be introduced in early childhood through playful, child-led, and purposeful learning experiences. 

 The Forum will open with a thought-provoking keynote address by Professor Mutlu Cukurova (UCL Knowledge Lab, University College London) on Protecting and Promoting Human Agency in the Age of Artificial Intelligence in Education. Guided by co-chairs Professor Susan Edwards (Australian Catholic University, Melbourne) and Dr. Eirini Gkouskou (University College London), this dynamic gathering will bring together pioneering voices in education, creating a vibrant global think tank — a space for imagination, co-creation, and bold new ideas shaping the future of learning. Together, participants will help shape the future by laying the foundations for the Professional Learning Module on AI Literacies, a cornerstone of the evolving Voices of Children Pedagogy™ project.

2025 Voices of Children Pedagogy™ Leaders’ Forum – Friday, 14 November

Co-Constructing Knowledge: Action Research to Scale the Global Impact of the Voices of Children Pedagogy™

Join us at the 2025 Voices of Children Pedagogy™ Leaders Forum to hear first-hand from pioneering educators around the world—Voices of Children Pedagogy™ Champions—as they share the transformational impact of the initiative’s pilot phase on children, educators, and families.

Celebrating groundbreaking global achievements with profound, child-centred impact, the Forum will spotlight how lives are being transformed, practices reshaped, and policies inspired across the world. Central to the gathering will be the unveiling of the 2025–2026 implementation plan — a milestone in the International Project (2025–2030), honoured with the UCL Innovation Network Grant (ESRC Impact Acceleration Programme, UK).

Beyond a gathering, the Forum will ignite collaboration and systemic transformation — laying the foundation for generations to come.

Learn More

Educators and Researchers Working Together for Change

Researchers are especially encouraged to engage in collaborative action research alongside educators—working together to document, deepen, and scale the pedagogy’s impact across diverse educational and cultural settings.

📝 Selected case studies from the 2025-2026 phase will be featured in the December 2026 Special Edition of the Journal of Early Childhood Research (SAGE).

🔔 Check back regularly for updates and submission guidelines for proposal contributions. 

Plan to join us at the Forum—online or in person in London or Abu Dhabi.

Learn More

Voices of Children Pedagogy™ Centres in Action A Historic First: In September 2025, Young Children’s Voices Travel from Classrooms to the United Nations

Children’s Voices on the World Stage

'We begin by listening—because every conversation on preschool education must start with those it serves first.''

Across continents, children are stepping forward as global citizens—leading the way in advocating for the UN’s evolving treaty on the right to preschool education. Through the Voices of Children Pedagogy™ centres, they are carrying messages of hope, justice, and belonging for every child, everywhere.

Learn More

Calling on Researchers and Educators

Choose your pathway and join the movement:

✨ Educators – Bring the pedagogy to life in your classrooms, amplify children’s voices, engage families, and gain recognition as a Voices of Children Pedagogy™ Champion nationally and internationally.

🎓 Researchers – Drive global knowledge through action research, co-author international publications, mentor educators, and gain recognition as a co-author of the evolving Voices of Children Pedagogy™.

Join the Voices of Children Pedagogy™ Global Movement

Join as a ResearcherJoin as an Educator

The 2025 BRIGHT START Interactive Learning Arena

The AI Lab: Elevate Your Teaching with the Power of AI

Montessori Exploration Zones: Feel, Explore, Create

Montessori Exploration Zones: Feel, Explore, Create

Join us for inspiring, hands-on sessions designed for early childhood and primary educators. Featuring live demos and real classroom applications, these sessions will showcase how AI can simplify your workflow while inspiring innovative learning experiences.

Montessori Exploration Zones: Feel, Explore, Create

Montessori Exploration Zones: Feel, Explore, Create

Montessori Exploration Zones: Feel, Explore, Create

A Space Where Montessori Principles Thrive in Real-Time!   

Montessori is Meant to Be Experienced, Not Just Discussed.

In Partnership with

 Montessori Global Education

REGISTER NOW

Meet Some of the 2025 Bright Start Presenters

The 2025 Voices of Children Pedagogy™ Virtual Galleries Are LIVE!

Explore the Galleries

Join the Bright Start Community

Join us in this exciting journey where your voice matters, and your passion fuels the collective effort to revolutionise early childhood education across the world. Together, let's build a community that empowers, inspires, and shapes the foundation for a world where every child can truly shine.

Join the Bright Start Community

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