CHINA CONFERENCE
SPRING 2026
MORE INFO COMING SOON. WATCH THIS SPACE!
Inspiring Young Writers: Â Practical strategies to build a joyful, inclusive writing culture rooted in play, purpose, and developmentally appropriate practice
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A Three-Day Professional Learning Experience led by early childhood expert Kym ScottÂ
When and where is it?
Date:Â Friday 17th - Sunday 19th April 2026Â Â
Time:Â 9.30am - 3.30pm
Venue:Â Â Shanghai TBC
Cost:Â TBC
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What is it?
Join renowned early years specialist Kym Scott for a transformative three-day professional learning experience designed to reimagine early writing through a developmental, play-based lens.
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Across the days, delegates will move from The Foundations of Writing - exploring early mark-making, motor development, and the power of talk - through to No More Reluctant Writers, a deep dive into curriculum design that fosters confidence, competence, and motivation in every child. With a particular emphasis on supporting children learning English as an additional language, the sessions explore how to make writing accessible, authentic, and meaningful for all.
Throughout, Kym will draw on her decades of expertise, including her leadership of the Early Years team in Lewisham, London, where outcomes were transformed from the lowest to the highest in England. She brings practical, evidence-informed strategies that have been successfully implemented in diverse school communities, both in the UK and internationally.
This is not just another writing course. It is a carefully curated, reflective journey that challenges outdated assumptions, deepens understanding, and equips educators with a clear, actionable roadmap for creating a rich, inclusive writing culture. Delegates will leave energised and inspired, with renewed clarity, fresh ideas, and a powerful toolkit to support every child to become a confident, capable writer.
  Who is it for?
Anyone working with young children aged 3–7 who wants to support early writing development through playful, authentic experiences. It is also ideal for leaders seeking to deepen their own understanding and support their teams in creating a rich, engaging writing curriculum
For those unable to attend the full event, each day can also be booked as a powerful standalone experience.
What you’ll gain from attending:
- A deep understanding of how children develop as writers.
- Practical strategies for embedding writing into play and everyday experiences.
- Tools for scaffolding early mark-makers into confident, competent writers
- Approaches for supporting reluctant writers and those working at earlier developmental stages
- Insights into effective assessment and planning for next steps.
- Inspiration, real-life examples, and actionable ideas you can implement right away.
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Overview:
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Day 1: The Foundations of Writing
This day will focus on the building blocks of early writing and how adults can support this process with intention and care. Understand the developmental journey from early mark-making to confident writing. Learn how to nurture children’s communication and language skills and transform their spoken ideas into meaningful written content. Examine the role of fine and gross motor development in writing. Discover playful, developmentally appropriate ways to support the physical readiness children need in order to write successfully.
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Day 2: Writing and Play.
This day will focus on designing learning environments and experiences, indoors and out, that naturally invite children to write as part of their play. Delegates will also explore how adults can sensitively support and shape children’s writing skills by interacting in ways which build on children’s play and lead to meaningful writing opportunities.
 Day 3: No More Reluctant WritersÂ
  Discover common practices that can unintentionally undermine children’s confidence. Learn how to foster a love of writing by keeping it joyful, purposeful, and child centred. Discover new ways to bring excitement and relevance to writing. Gain clarity on how to assess early writing and use what you notice to shape future teaching. Learn how to spot strengths and gaps, and plan with purpose.
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Your Facilitator
Kym Scott is an international early childhood consultant, with a reputation for igniting change through deep, developmental understanding and practical application. Kym brings a passion for play, child development, and teacher empowerment. Find out more about Kym's work here.
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