Supporting Progress in Reception: Teaching, Play and Assessment - Speakers

Dr Sam Wass

Dr Sam Wass is a developmental psychologist, currently based at the University of Cambridge and the University of East London. Sam appears as an on-screen scientist in the Channel 4 / Welcome Trust series 'The Secret Life of 4-, 5- and 6-Year-Olds' and also regularly on other national broadcast media (BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, Sky News).

Lee Owston HMI, National Lead for the Early Years, Ofsted

Lee is a National Lead within the early education nand inspect schools and ITE partnerships in the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside region. Lee is also a chartered educational assessor and has worked with the Standards and Testing Agency on national assessments, including the EYFSP, for a number of years.

Sue Robb, Head of Early Years, 4Children

After seven years as a Headteacher of a large outstanding Infant and Nursery School she joined Surrey county Local Authority School Improvement Team as a Primary Consultant with responsibility for the Early Years Foundation Stage.  In her local authority roles Sue has worked closely with a variety of schools, settings/ nurseries – private, voluntary and independent, childminders and sector partners. Sue has worked as a SIP and Ofsted inspector and is recognised nationally for her work on early years’ quality improvement.

Charlotte Willoughby, Deputy Head & EYFS Leader, Wood Street Infant School

Charlotte has been teaching for nearly ten years settling more recently in an infant school in Guildford as deputy head and EYFS leader.  It was here that she led the EYFS team to an Outstanding Ofsted judgement in March 2015.  Alongside teaching she completed a Masters degree which included a yearlong project into continued provision and learning through play.

Anna Ephgrave, Assistant Headteacher for Early Years, Carterhatch Infant School

Anna is currently Assistant Headteacher for the EYFS. Prior to this post she was an Advanced Skills Teacher, leading and developing a very successful Early Years Team within a Primary School for over 20 years. Her work in that foundation stage led to Outstanding grades in three OFSTED inspections.

Neil Farmer, Independent Early Years Adviser

Neil is an independent educational consultant supporting school and setting development across London, the Midlands and the South East. He is also an  improvement advisor to a number of schools and Early Years Settings in the Middle East

Dr Sue Allingham, Freelance Consultant

Dr Susan Allingham is a former Early Years Co-ordinator with both a MA and Doctorate in Early Years Education from Sheffield University.  She also regularly writes for Early Years Educator magazine and is on their editorial board.

Sam Attwater, Director of nurseries, Aurora Academies Trust

Sam is a highly skilled professional and manager. With over 14 years of experience Sam is an advocate for children of all ages mixing and working together, supporting each other’s learning as well as developing responsibility of their own education. In November 2013 Sam took part in the Two Year Olds in Schools Demonstration Project with the DFE and is now a Champion encouraging other school to take funded 2 year olds. In October 2014 Sam spoke at the London 8-6 Nursery Provision Project and in November 2014 spoke alongside the Early Years Team from DFE at the Academies Show in Birmingham.

John Greenwoo​d, Executive Head, Aurora Academies Trust

John is the Executive Headteacher of King Offa, Heron Park and Oakwood Primary Academies and works for Aurora Academies Trust. He has a BA degree and PGCE from the University of Durham. John has worked in education for over 35 years in a variety of schools ranging from a small primary to a large special school, having been a Headteacher for the last 25 years taking two schools from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted categories.

Rekha Bhakoo
Headteacher, Newton Farm Nursery, Infant and Junior School