2025 Bright Start International Conference
Annual Conference on Early Childhood
Early Years Excellence in Practice:
Championing Inclusion, and Social Justice in Early Childhood & Primary Education
Hosted in Abu Dhabi by the Conference’s Principal Partner:
AI in Early Childhood & Primary Education
Empower, Present, Lead — Whether Online or In Person in London or Abu Dhabi
The Bright Start Foundation invites leading EdTech experts, researchers, and innovators to submit proposals to present and serve as Session Chairs in the AI-focused track of the 2025 Bright Start International Conference.
Chair-Presenters will showcase their work and bring forward leading-edge insights, while guiding thought-provoking discussions that reveal emerging trends & encourage cross-sector collaboration.
🗓 Submission Deadline: Friday, 22 August 2025
For submission guidelines and to submit your proposal, please click the button below.
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.
Led by Professor Susan Edwards, Professor of Early Childhood Education and Director of Early Childhood Futures at Australian Catholic University (Melbourne, Australia), the Forum will operate as a vibrant global think tank—a space for imagination, co-creation, and critical reflection.
📣 Call for Contributions Now Open
To shape a dynamic and inclusive session, we welcome your experiences and ideas in advance!
What to Submit:
A short description (maximum 150 words) of your idea, tool, or strategy for helping children know about and understand AI through child-led play or daily classroom experiences.
Examples may include:
• A creative way children share their understanding and knowledge about technologies through storytelling, drawing, or role-play
• A classroom moment where children's curiosity about technologies sparked a meaningful learning opportunity
• A question or observation from your practice that opened up discussion about people, robots, machines and intelligence
Submission Guidelines
Submissions received ahead of the Forum will be considered for inclusion in the agenda as brief presentations or provocations (up to 10 minutes)—designed to spark dialogue and inspire collaborative discussion.
A Global Report capturing the collective insights and contributions from this Forum will be published following the conference. All presenters and contributors will be acknowledged, including their titles and brief bios (up to 50 words).
This report will lay the groundwork for the development of an innovative AI Literacy Module for Early Childhood Education—designed by and for a global community. It will also mark the announcement of the next phase of the initiative, inviting broader participation and collaboration.
Come prepared to share your experiences, contribute your ideas, and actively engage in collaborative brainstorming.
For submission guidelines and to submit your proposal, please click the button below.
Please note: Only registered delegates—whether attending online or in person in London or Abu Dhabi—are eligible to submit a proposal.
🗓️ Submission Deadline: 30 September
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.
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