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
🌍 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)
''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.
Co-chaired by Professor Susan Edwards (Australian Catholic University, Melbourne), Dan Fitzpatrick (“The AI Educator” and author of the best-selling book The AI Classroom), and Dr. Eirini Gkouskou (University College London), the Forum will bring together leading voices in education as a vibrant global think tank — a space for imagination, co-creation, and critical reflection. 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.
Call for Contributions closes on 30 September
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.
The Forum will present the 2025–2026 Plan of Action, outlining the next phase of implementation and the evolving role of AI in supporting and scaling the pedagogy. It will serve as a powerful platform for educators, researchers, and policymakers to collaborate and drive forward this transformative global movement.
-d934982.jpeg/:/cr=t:1.42%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:97.15%25/rs=w:600,h:451.12781954887214,cg:true)
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.
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.
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
Unite to Shape the Future in Early Childhood Education
Connect with Bright Start Foundation's Special Interest Groups (SiGs)
In early 2024, five Special Interest Groups (SIGs) were formed to address key transformative areas:
🌐 AI in Early Childhood & Primary Education: Unlocking the potential of technology to enhance learning and development.
🗣️ The Evolving NEW Voices of Children Pedagogy™: Placing children’s voices, rights, and creativity at the heart of early childhood education
👨👩👧👦 Intergenerational Approaches: Bridging generations to enrich early childhood experiences and foster meaningful connections.
🌟 Professionalism and Leadership: Empowering educators and leaders to drive meaningful change and elevate standards in early childhood education.
⚖️ Authentic Assessment for Early Childhood Intervention: Upholding young children’s rights to accurate representation and equitable opportunities.
These vibrant groups convene annually during the conference, providing members the flexibility to participate online or in person.
Join Bright Start Foundation's Special Interest Groups
🌟 Enter a global network of early childhood practitioners and researchers, united to drive positive change in early childhood care and education across the world.