Speaking, consultancy and training in the Early Years

Get in Touch

I work with organisations that want to think more carefully about young children, early years practice and social justice.

Speaking and facilitation

I speak at conferences, events and professional learning sessions, and contribute to panels, podcasts and public conversations.

My work explores early childhood education and care, social justice, identity, inclusion and the wider conditions affecting children’s lives and early years practice.

I aim to make complex ideas accessible while creating space for reflection, discussion and meaningful action.

Training and staff development

I design bespoke training for early years settings and for organisations whose work involves babies, young children and families.

Sessions can develop understanding of early childhood practice or explore areas including social justice, anti-racism, identity and inclusion. Training is designed around the particular organisation and its context, with an emphasis on reflection, discussion and applying ideas meaningfully in practice.

Consultancy and strategy

I support organisations developing early years projects, programmes, resources and strategy.

This might involve providing specialist early childhood expertise, reviewing an existing approach, contributing to programme design, supporting work around equality and inclusion, or acting as a critical friend at key stages of a project.

Previous consultancy has included work with organisations including BBC Children in Need and Scouts UK.

Research, evaluation, knowledge exchange

I also work on research-informed projects, evaluation, writing, resource development and knowledge exchange.

This can include collaborating with organisations to explore a question, understand their work more deeply, develop research-informed resources or connect research with policy and practice.

I am also available for interviews and media contributions relating to early childhood, inclusion and social justice.

Areas of expertise

Early childhood education and care · social justice · anti-racist practice · equality and inclusion · identity and belonging · play and pedagogy · working with families · gender and LGBT+ inclusion · early years policy

Have a project in mind?

If you are planning an event, developing a project or looking for specialist early childhood input, get in touch to discuss what would be useful.

Get in touch

COMING SPRING 2027 FROM SAGE

Social Justice for the Early Years

A Guide for Educators

Learn more

  • "It was so great to have you on the panel and you really seamlessly move through the different layers of your content in a nuanced yet accessible way."

  • "You say it is better to try and get it wrong than not try at all, this has stuck in my head since seeing you, and I would like the staff and I to try to do our best for the children we take care of."

  • "I really liked how you emphasised the self-care needed in anti-racist work while also not letting us off the hook - gently pushing us to confront our roles and privileges in racist structures."

  • "I was captivated by your words and your goal to champion diversity in early years and directly face discrimination and how it can be dealt with."

  • "Listening to Shaddai carefully explain key concepts with examples was brilliant. The openness of everyone taking part, including shaddai, made the course a safe place to discuss racism."

  • "Sharing your research and personal experiences added a unique depth and perspective to the discussion, making it a remarkable learning experience for everyone involved."

  • "I firstly wanted to say how amazing and inspirational you are. I am a class teacher at X School and I came away so inspired. I have been sharing lots of the messages from the day with staff since being back in school."

  • "I like the interactive style and the way in which the presenter makes the session accessible. Really thought provoking and interactive."

  • "made me think about how important it is to have conversations with children and staff within my setting. Feel empowered by new knowledge to be confident with challenging adaptations to practice."

  • "You have inspired the students by acting as a role model for resilience and dedication as well as demonstrating first hand alternative routes into the sector."

  • "Speaking from own background and practitioner experience, very informative on social issues. Really thought-provoking, really enjoyed the handouts to take away and focus on in more detail."

  • "Shaddai’s warmth and openness, the way he kindly challenged us to look both inward and outward so as we could reflect as individuals and take practical steps in interactions with the children in setting."

  • "The training was so well-structured and tailored to our work specifically, and it felt like you provided a really open and caring space for talking and thinking about such complicated and difficult things."

  • "I think the mix of talking from our personal experiences, the historical and theoretical context, and practical exercises and discussion was really brilliant."

  • "I definitely feel more comfortable talking about anti-racism and taking action to identify, react to and work against racism in my working life and my personal life as a result of this training."

  • "Specifically, I am coming away from this training with a clear understanding of where and how racism exists for children under 5 and the adults that interact in their learning environment."

  • "I felt expertly facilitated to contribute to conversations and particularly appreciated Shaddai’s promotion of the importance of “listening spaces” as well as conversation spaces."