Acorn Conference 2026

The day began with a warm welcome from our CEO, Zoe Raven, and Chair of Trustees, Narendra Laljani. Zoe’s opening speech was, as always, truly inspiring, setting the tone for an energising and purposeful day ahead, and reminding us all of the impact our teams make every single day.

We were delighted to welcome Dr Aaron Bradbury as our keynote speaker. A Principal Lecturer in Early Years and Childhood at Nottingham Trent University, Aaron specialises in learning and development, psychology, SEND, inclusion and early childhood studies. His engaging and thought-provoking keynote captivated our audience and sparked meaningful reflection across our teams. Aaron also delivered an additional workshop, A Child in the NOW: A Relational Approach to Early Childhood Practice, which was incredibly well received. The afternoon was filled with a wide range of high-quality training sessions, delivered by both familiar and new faces. We were thrilled to welcome back Kirstine Beeley with her ever-popular Storytelling Skills workshop, Jon Manning with his practical session on grounding techniques, self-help tools and motivation, and Ben Kingston-Hughes, who inspired teams through his session on growth mindsets and resilience. We were also excited to introduce Boogie Mites, who brought energy and creativity with their interactive, music-led session. Their approach to active music-making by encouraging dancing, clapping and singing highlighted the powerful role of music in supporting children’s learning, development and wellbeing.

Sustainability continues to be a key focus for Acorn, and many teams took part in Santa’s Developing Eco Lead Practices training. This is an area we are passionate about embedding across all of our settings, ensuring our teams are confident in leading environmentally responsible practices. Throughout the day, we were pleased to welcome a number of our valued suppliers, who engaged with teams during the breaks and showcased the products and services that support our nurseries. The event was complemented by excellent catering, giving everyone the opportunity to relax, recharge and connect with colleagues from across the organisation.

Above all, the conference was a celebration of our people. It was a fantastic opportunity to dedicate time to professional development, share knowledge and strengthen connections across our settings, ensuring that best practice continues to thrive throughout Acorn.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the day such a success, and most importantly, to our wonderful teams for bringing their energy, enthusiasm and passion for the Acorn way. Your commitment to delivering exceptional care and education is what makes Acorn so special.