Health and Wellbeing, Child Development, Inclusive Practice

Given that every child is both unique and a competent learner from birth, it is crucial that educators encourage and support each child to thrive in every area of development at their pace and in their own individual ways.

Ages: 0-5 years

About the Authors

Nicole Halton

Nicole Halton is a passionate early childhood professional with over 20 years of hands-on experience in just about every role you can imagine: from educator and director to author, consultant, approved provider and resource developer. Nicole has made it her mission to help educators rediscover the joy and wonder of childhood through nature play, slow pedagogy, and authentic connection with children.

Since co-founding Inspired EC in 2008, Nicole has inspired countless educators across Australia and beyond with her workshops, books and resources, always encouraging them to embrace the messiness, adventure, and magic that comes with working with young children. When she’s not delivering a training session or putting together a new blog post for the Inspired EC blog, you will typically find Nicole with her head in a book or exploring the outdoors with her family.

Anne O'Connor

Anne O’Connor has more than twenty years’ experience and leadership in nursery, infant and primary schools in inner London. She developed and coordinated one of the first Early Years Units in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, United Kingdom, in which nursery and reception age children were fully integrated. A freelance educational consultant since 2000, Anne is a regular contributor to the early childhood magazine, Nursery World.

Anne Rodgers

Anne Rodgers has over 30 years’ experience in the early years sector in the United Kingdom. She has a Master of Early Years Education and is currently working as an early years consultant. She also has experience delivering training courses for educators and child minders and is an associate of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) and a part-time inspector for the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) in the United Kingdom.

Linda Pound

Linda Pound is an experienced educator and author who has worked in all sectors of education, including tertiary, but whose passion is work with young children and their families. She has been head of a nursery school and deputy head of a primary school, and has also run both foundation and honours degree programmes on early childhood studies.

Natashja Treveton

Natashja “Tash” Treveton is a passionate early childhood professional and co-founder of Inspired EC. With over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, Tash’s career has been a joyful adventure starting as a casual educator and growing into roles such as educational leader, director, approved provider, consultant, playground designer and passionate advocate for children.

Whether she’s designing magical outdoor environments, facilitating TimberNook experiences or guiding educators through the Talking and Thinking Floorbooks Approach as a licensed trainer for Claire Warden, Tash brings a sense of fun and possibility to every project. Her work is grounded in the belief that both children and educators thrive when given the freedom to explore, imagine and take risks. Tash has inspired thousands of educators across Australia and beyond through training, mentoring and books, with a particular passion for infant and toddler practice, slow pedagogy and supporting effective leadership.