Tiny Chair Podcast

Richard Knight is a Children's Services Manager for the Early Years Alliance with a variety of experience working in Early Years education over the last 18 years. Richard manages Early Years settings, writes and delivers training, and he has supported many providers to meet the requirements of the EYFS so that they are compliant and inspection-ready. Through his work he has the opportunity to be hands-on and collaborate with educators, children, and families, so he understands the challenges that the sector faces, and he is passionate about making a difference. Richard has firsthand experience of supporting children's behaviour, working in nurseries, preschools, stay-and-play groups, out-of-school clubs, and creches over the years.

Dr. Jacqueline Harding is an international child development education expert and the author of The Brain That Loves to Play. She's been a headteacher and consultant as well as a government advisor and a BBC education editor working on programs like Peter Rabbit, Teletubbies, Clangers, Bing, Baby Vibes, and is a contributor to CBeebies Parenting. She is an honorary visiting research fellow at Middlesex University and the chair of the Bright Start Foundation. Rachel Barnett-Jones is a writer, producer, and educator with a particular passion for writing for young people. You'll have seen her work on Pip and Rosie and Magic Light Pictures. She's worked extensively within education settings and is currently working with Equity Spotlight, BBC Safeguarding and the TV Human Rights Foundation, as well as the Network of Children in Unemployment and Education. Rachel recently set up Sensible Creative, which seeks to create a safer and kinder arts landscape, especially for young professional performers.

Safeguarding expert Ann Marie Christian joins Matt and Julia for a frank conversation about keeping children safe in Early Years settings. With over 30 years of experience as a social worker, LADO, DSL, and safeguarding consultant, Ann Marie shares hard-won lessons from real investigations. We cover CCTV in nurseries, the 2026 KCSIE and Safer Sleep changes, spotting grooming, the grey areas of physical touch, and how to build a setting where staff feel safe to speak up.

Her website:
https://annmariechristian.com/

Laura Henry-Allain MBE is an award-winning international educator, author, speaker, and consultant. She knows Early Years inside out and has been everything from a nursery manager to an Ofsted inspector, and is vice-president of The British Association for Early Childhood Education. Laura received a Nursery World lifetime achievement award in 2021. Laura also plays many roles in children’s media, including educational consultant for the BBC and board member for The Children's Media Foundation. She is also the mind behind, “My Skin, Your Skin”, “Maya and Marley”, and “JoJo and Gran Gran”. Laura is a patron of the Grenada Community Library and Expert Commissioner on the ‘Raising the Nation’ Play Commission’s national inquiry into play. She was awarded her MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list in 2021 for services to education.

Her website
https://www.laurahenryallain.com/

Mary Anderson is the co-founder of My Music Starts Here alongside her husband Mike. My Music Starts Here provides early music education through resources, support for educators, and they even have their own certification. Their mission statement is: "We strive to ensure that all young children, regardless of their race, gender, abilities, location, school, childcare, or socioeconomic status, have the very best music learning experiences that we can provide." Mary was a preschool and elementary school teacher for over 12 years. She's also a musician and a singer in her own right, with a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance and a Master's degree in music education.

Her website and Youtube channel:
mymusicstartshere.com youtube.com/@mymusicwithmary