Learning: Early Years Networking - Best practice to improve learning

Nicola Burke

Nicola is an Education Consultant with 24 years’ experience working within the Music Education, Early Childhood Education and Arts & Culture sectors. She has a wealth of experience as a coach, facilitator, strategic leader, mentor, speaker, educator, adviser, trainer, project leader, researcher, and evaluator. She has had the privilege of working on educational programmes with world renowned organisations such as Royal Albert Hall, Royal Opera House, BBC, Royal College of Music and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She created the award-winning Tune into Listening resource and in 2018 wrote Musical Development Matters in the Early Years, a free downloadable resource to complement the EYFS guidance material, Development Matters in the EYFS.   Nicola’s practice is rooted in creating spaces that are respectful, kind and compassionate and works with others to develop worthwhile musical opportunities for children and families.

Leanne Galloway

Leanne Galloway has been in education for nineteen years. She is presently the Head of Early Years at Repton, Dubai. She graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Law from the University of Exeter, followed by a PGCE in Early Years. Leanne has taught in both State and Independent schools in the UK and Asia and has also worked freelance as an early years’ consultant and Ofsted inspector. She brings a wealth of experience from leading large early settings catering to children as young as 18 months old, to supporting different settings as a School Improvement Partner. Her work has involved collaborating with numerous early years’ providers to drive rapid improvement. Leanne is a frequent guest speaker and presenter for companies specializing in professional development for teachers and early years practitioners. She is passionate about early childhood development and takes great joy in creating nurturing environments where children can play and learn.

Patricia Riddell

Patricia Riddell is Professor of Applied Neuroscience and a chartered psychologist. She obtained degrees from University of Glasgow and Imperial College, before completing a doctorate at the University of Oxford.

She is passionate about sharing the expanding knowledge that we have about the brain with educational practitioners, parents and children. She believes they can benefit from knowing how the brain works and how we can use this knowledge to behave more effectively.

She works with a charity (Neuroscience for Education) which brings neuroscience learning to educational professionals. In this role, she has designed and delivers a two highly successful programmes for educators: Neuroscience for Teachers and Neuroscience for Educational Leaders. She is also co-author of two books that apply neuroscience in the workplace, Neuroscience for Leadership Coaching (Bloomsbury, 2016) and NeuroEffective Leadership (Routledge, 2025).

Claire Robinson

Mrs Claire Robinson was appointed Headteacher of Holme Grange in 2009. 

She started teaching in 2001 following a successful career in Financial Services. Prior to joining Holme Grange, Claire was Headteacher of St Thomas Moore RC Primary School, Kidlington which she guided from a ‘failing school’ to being placed 15th Best Primary School in the UK by the Financial Times. During her time at St Thomas Moore, her contribution to education was recognised with the award of Headteacher of The Year in the South East at the National Teaching Awards. 

Claire graduated with a BA in Science and Education from the Open University and completed her PGCE at Oxford Brookes. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Teaching and also a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society of Arts). Claire is also an Associate Challenge Award Assessor and Trainer for NACE (National Association for Able Children in Education) as well as an ISI Inspector.

Since joining Holme Grange, Claire has led the expansion of the School (from 210 pupils to 684), extending the age range from 3-13 to 3-16, taking pupils up to GCSE level. During this time, the buildings and facilities have grown to include a state of the art Theatre and cutting edge classrooms and study spaces. The School has been recognised by the ISA with awards including the Early Years Award for Innovation in Provision, Excellence in Sustainability and Senior School Award for Excellent and Innovation. Holme Grange was first awarded a NACE Challenge Award in 2013, which was reviewed and re-accredited again in 2017 and 2021. Holme Grange is one of only 100 schools in the country to be re-accredited twice and is recognised as a Regional Hub for NACE in the local area. Recently Claire led the school in the Global School Alliance and the school has now entered a Sister School Partnership with a school in Japan.