Aaron Bradbury Principal Lecturer Apprenticeships and Work Based Learning in Education, Early Years and Children's Social Care. Research Interests: Widening participation (access for all) with links to apprenticeship pedagogy, Early Years and Education.

Ruth Swailes has almost 30 years’ experience in primary education, over 20 of them in senior leadership roles including primary headship. Ruth has worked as a School Improvement Advisor, Ofsted inspector, Early Years consultant and moderator in several Local Authorities, she has advised on DFE accredited phonics schemes and is the lead author, curriculum consultant and trainer on the Oxford University Press International Early Years curriculum. She has recently written their curriculum for 2-3-year-olds.

Philippa Thompson is Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University. Philippa began her career as an early years teacher, progressing to Head of Nursery/Foundation Stage and Assistant Head Teacher roles and an Early Years Advisory/ Community Teacher for Sheffield City Council. She is co-chair of the ECSDN which advocates for graduates in the workforce alongside lobbying for better pay and conditions in the early childhood workforce.