2025 Bright Start International Conference
Annual Conference on Early Childhood
Early Years Excellence in Practice:
Championing Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice
🌍 From London & Abu Dhabi to the World
November 13 - 15, 2025
Join us in person in London or Abu Dhabi, or online from anywhere in the world.
🌟 The 2025 Bright Start International Conference, the flagship event of the Bright Start Foundation is expanding its reach, uniting visionary educators, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from across the globe. For the first time, the conference will be hosted simultaneously in two major cities—London, United Kingdom, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates—while also being live-streamed worldwide!
Presenters and attendees can choose to attend online or in person. Those joining in person will have the unique opportunity to select their preferred city—London or Abu Dhabi—to immerse themselves in this transformative experience.
Hosted in Abu Dhabi by the Conference’s Principal Partner:
This year’s conference features three distinct tracks:
A. Autism & SEND
B. Future of Learning in Early Childhood
B. Future of Learning in Early Childhood
Focused on inclusive education, evidence-based approaches, adaptive learning strategies, and best practices for supporting children with autism and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
B. Future of Learning in Early Childhood
B. Future of Learning in Early Childhood
B. Future of Learning in Early Childhood
Examining the role of AI, neuroscience in education, research-driven innovation, and the integration of cutting-edge technology in shaping the future of early childhood learning environments.
C. Montessori Vision in Action Track
B. Future of Learning in Early Childhood
C. Montessori Vision in Action Track
In partnership with Montessori Global Education, this track explores methodologies inspired by the world’s renowned pedagogists, with a focus on child-led learning, interdisciplinary connections, and innovative approaches to enhance early learning experiences.
Call for Submission of Proposals
Share your insights and latest advancements from wherever you are in the world
A. Open Call for Submission of Proposals
B. Montessori Vision in Action track: In Partnership with Montessori Global Education
B. Montessori Vision in Action track: In Partnership with Montessori Global Education
Share your expertise to inspire impactful change with presentations that explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:
🎯 Holistic Development – Supporting children aged 0–8
⚖️ Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice
🧩 Autism & Special Educational Needs (SEND)
💖 Child Mental Health & Well-being
🌱 Child-Led Pedagogies
🤖 AI in Early Childhood – Personalised learning & future-ready skills
🎨 The New Voices of Children Pedagogy™ – Creative arts & self-
expression
👨👩👧 Family & Community Engagement
🔬 STEAM & Innovation
🏅 Leadership & Professional Growth
📖 Early Literacy & Language Development
👶 Intergenerational Approaches – Strengthening connections across generations
B. Montessori Vision in Action track: In Partnership with Montessori Global Education
B. Montessori Vision in Action track: In Partnership with Montessori Global Education
B. Montessori Vision in Action track: In Partnership with Montessori Global Education
A dedicated conference track in partnership with Montessori Global Education
📢 Educators, researchers, and innovators are called to submit inspiring proposals that explore child-centred, experiential, and holistic approaches to early childhood education, drawing from the educational principles of some of the world’s most renowned pedagogists, including but not limited to Maria Montessori, Reggio Emilia (Loris Malaguzzi), and Friedrich Froebel.
🌍 As education continues to evolve, this dedicated track seeks to showcase how these foundational principles can be adapted, expanded, and reimagined to meet the ever-changing needs of children today across diverse cultural and educational landscapes.
Proposals should explore key themes such as play-based education, hands-on learning, creativity, and the role of the environment in nurturing a child’s development—ensuring that learning remains inclusive, engaging, and relevant to children wherever they are in the world.
Key Information for 2025 Bright Start Conference Presenters & Facilitators
Presenter & Facilitator Guidelines
Conference Programme, Expert Recognition, Resource Sharing & Publications
Conference Programme, Expert Recognition, Resource Sharing & Publications
· Presentation Format Selection: At the time of submission, applicants must indicate whether they will present online or in person at our London or Abu Dhabi venues, should their proposal be accepted.
· Blended Format Sessions: Multi-presenter sessions (up to four presenters) can combine virtual and in-person participation, offering a flexible and dynamic experience.
· Registration Requirement: Accepted presenters must register at the Early Bird rate or the applicable conference rate at the time of registration. Each co-presenter must register individually.
· Travel & Accommodation: Presenters and facilitators attending in person are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.
Conference Programme, Expert Recognition, Resource Sharing & Publications
Conference Programme, Expert Recognition, Resource Sharing & Publications
Conference Programme, Expert Recognition, Resource Sharing & Publications
Sessions, presenters, and facilitators will be announced in the official 2025 Bright Start Programme and featured in the Experts section on the conference website. This content will be published in June 2025 and remain accessible until January 2026.
Handouts and materials shared by presenters and facilitators will be available on the 2025 Conference App, with participant access from September 2025 to February 2026.
Session recordings will remain accessible for three months post-conference, available until February 15, 2026.
Presentation summaries, submitted as abstracts along with author details, will be featured in the 2025 Conference Proceedings and published in the Publications section on both the 2026 Bright Start International Conference website and the Bright Start Foundation website.
Session Duration & Presentation formats
Conference Programme, Expert Recognition, Resource Sharing & Publications
Session Duration & Presentation formats
Session Duration
Presentation Duration: Sessions range from 40 to 80 minutes, including Q&A.
Interactive Learning Arena: Hands-on sessions lasting 45–60 minutes.
Presentation Formats:
🎯 Thematic Presentations – Explore key topics in early childhood education.
🛠️ Hands-On Workshops – Equip participants with practical strategies and tools.
🎥 Live Demonstrations – Showcase innovative practices in action.
The 2025 Bright Start Interactive Learning Arena: Innovate, Explore, Create
The Interactive Learning Arena is a hub for innovation, co-creation, and discovery, where educators, researchers, and practitioners come together to push the boundaries of early childhood education through hands-on, transformative experiences.
This space enhances professional learning by shifting from passive presentations to action-driven engagement. Facilitators will introduce interactive, real-world applications of innovative educational methods, allowing participants to experiment, adapt, and refine ideas in a dynamic, participatory format.
Guided by facilitators, all participants—whether attending in person or online—will actively explore new teaching methodologies, test emerging educational technologies, and engage in hands-on learning, gaining valuable insights through direct, experiential involvement.
The Interactive Learning Arena includes two core sections:
A. The Early Learning Lab: A Collaborative Exploration Space
A. The Early Learning Lab: A Collaborative Exploration Space
A. The Early Learning Lab: A Collaborative Exploration Space
Designed for active participation and hands-on engagement, this dynamic space brings together educators, practitioners, researchers, and innovators to co-create, test, and refine new educational approaches using emerging technologies and real-world applications.
Participants will explore AI-driven education, adaptive learning models, gamification, and cutting-edge digital tools, collaborating in real-time to develop and refine innovative strategies.
B. Montessori Interactive Learning Arena & Exploration zones
A. The Early Learning Lab: A Collaborative Exploration Space
A. The Early Learning Lab: A Collaborative Exploration Space
In Partnership with Montessori Global Education
o Make and Do – Creating Experiences to Play, Share, and Adapt.
o Touch & Try: Engage with core Montessori materials.
o Create Your Own Montessori Material: DIY material-making session to craft cost-effective Montessori-inspired resources.
o Montessori-Inspired STEM & STEAM Exploration: Hands-On Experiments & Demonstrations.
o Montessori Practical Life in Action: Sensorial Exploration.
o Innovate & Imagine: Thinking Outside the Box – A creative space for pushing the boundaries of Montessori-inspired education, exploring new approaches to learning.
Interested in participating as a Presenter or Facilitator?
Click below to complete and Submit Your Proposal
Important Deadlines
- Submission of Proposals: May 9, 2025
- Publication of the Preliminary Programme: June 20, 2025
- Submission of Abstracts for the 2025 Bright Start Conference Proceedings: October 10, 2025
Register Now and Take Advantage of Early Bird Registration!
Early Bird registrations are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The system will automatically close once the spaces are filled, after which the pre-registration rate will apply.
2024 Conference Publications
Visit the 2024 Conference Publications page to access the BS2024 Final Programme, the Abstract Book with Conference Proceedings, and Voices of Children Pedagogy™ in Practice: Year 1 Reflections - Implementation Case Studies. Click below to delve into the highlights and inspiration shared at the event.
Contact Us
https://brightstartfoundation.org/
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