Get in touch

For anything, send a message to Shaddai@CriticalEarlyYears.org.

I am available for interviews and media requests.

I am available as a speaker, panellist, or host. I can deliver workshops, training, and consultancy on:

  • Gender and LGBT+ equalities, including heteronormativity;

  • race and racism;

    • delivered either as an introductory primer or across multiple focused workshops (how race shows up in children’s play, reflecting on our racial identities as educators, conversations with parents and carers, developing anti-racism guidance).

    • For larger settings - I offer a ‘train the trainer’ model.

  • anti-discriminatory practice in the early years;

  • the diversity of the early childhood profession, men in early years #MMOAKITEY;

  • Issues of social justice, Freirian critical pedagogy;

  • the professional status of the early years ;

  • my own experience as a practitioner;

  • child-centred pedagogies

  • and topics on request.

All can be tailored for keynotes, toward smaller groups (for example: individual settings) or for larger organisations. All available online. All can be pre-recorded for CPD training with built in activities and discussion points. Available to speak to schools.

I am also available for equality and inclusion coaching and mentoring for early years settings around all aspects noted above.

Please contact for further details.

Feedback

I attended the … conference that you were a guest speaker at on Wednesday. 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 came to your talk at the last X and 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. 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.

Extremely satisfied with the keynote - Knowledgeable, 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
Opened eyes / Very Informative, relates to current practice / Made you think about your own practice / That it got me thinking about my setting and what we could do better

Your presentation, rich in knowledge and insights, was not just informative but truly inspiring. Sharing your research and personal experiences added a unique depth and perspective to the discussion, making it a remarkable learning experience for everyone involved.

Though a little shy to share thoughts and ideas our [college-level] learners have taken so much from your presentation.  You were able to 'reach' all the learners, from levels 1-3, some of which may not have considered themselves able to access delivery from a University lecturer and Doctor.  Many have gone on to access resources you’ve shared and have brought their thoughts on this to class discussions.  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. and possible opportunities for careers in research and activism.  Here’s hoping that we can encourage a generation of Education and Childcare professionals to be thoughtful practitioners with the confidence to challenge inequalities.  Thank you again, we look forward to working with you again in the future.

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.

On anti-racism training:

[The best part of the training was] “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 and everyone’s experiences and ideas around this.”, “The delivery by Shaddai and his openness in sharing his expertise and experience”, “Great combination of information and reflection designed to make you think”, The case studies/situations to discuss with the group, very interesting to put yourself in real scenarios”, “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.”. Dr Shaddai Tembo. He is so good with his knowledge and delivery”.

The training has been so valuable. It 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 – in particular having a practical outcome from the sessions (the beginning of an anti-racism manifesto for our specific context) was so great and I think has really fired us up to continue the work.

 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. All of the workshop delivery felt really well pitched.

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. At the first session I started out feeling nervous and left the third session feeling charged with a positive urgency to implement my learning as well as an understanding that this is lifelong work. 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 feel informed enough to try to have a conversation about anti-racism with children under 5.

The content was excellently presented in a clear way via zoom. 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.

On gender and LGBT+ training:

(What was most useful?) Examples, strong messages, video, presenters knowledge and insight / Loved the video and going into the breakout rooms. I liked that you then got feedback from each room! / Discussion and open-mindedness of the session, allows for dialogue to begin around a topic that may otherwise go undiscussed.

(How will this training have an impact on your future practice?) Bring it to the forefront of my mind again / Really interesting presentation which I will share with colleagues. Discussions to be had about our provision. / a great impact as its got us thinking what we are doing now and how we can make changes / we will continue to do what we are doing, but be more aware of how we are including Gender / Shaddai Tembo was a great speaker - so knowledgeable - could've listened to him all day

On anti-discriminatory practice training

 It is something we need to reflect on on a daily basis. Great presentation! / Loved the apple metaphor - clarity of definition of anti-discriminatory practice. / Loved the concept of micro moments, not a stand alone concept but embedded into everything and that can be done via micro moment / Remembering that Inclusion isn't just about Send / Really great presentation and thought-provoking with practical ideas thank you / loved this, especially embedding positive practice and not paying lip service / Fantastic presentation, exceptionally thought-provoking / Loved the apple metaphor too, such a simple metaphor we can use to support settings to look at practice.  Thank you, really enjoyed the presentation. / thank you for such a thought provoking , calm and well rounded presentation

Really thought-provoking and has really 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/ It was really interesting to learn about anti-discrimination / liked the short discussions with other students / A lot of activities to engage with kept it interesting and interactive. Very good to get others experiences etc / I like the interactive style and the way in which the presenter makes the session accessible. Really thought provoking and interactive

Really thought-provoking / really enjoy the handouts to take away and focus on in more detail / (I enjoyed) The relevance to early years so we can make changes in our settings / Opened eyes (I enjoyed) having the discussions about settings and thinking about discrimination in it Very Informative , relates to current practice / Made you think about your own practice

Previous engagements

2024

  • March 2024 - Workshop lead on ‘Anti-discriminatory practice - putting theory into action’. For For Feltham Early Years Network Delivered in-person, Reach Children's Hub. Feltham, England

  • March 2024 - Speaker on Promoting anti-discriminatory practice in the early years. For Knowsley Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2024. Delivered online.

  • February 2024 - Speaker on Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Practice in Early Years Settings. For Early Years Inspections Digital Conference. Westminster Insight. Delivered online.

  • February 2024 - Workshop Lead on ‘Promoting anti-discriminatory practice in the early years’. For The Nursery World Show 2024. London, England.

  • January 2024 - Panellist on ‘Workforce Wellbeing in the Early Years’. For For ‘Early Years in Mind’ Network. Anna Freud. Delivered online.

  • January 2024 - Guest Lecture on ‘Black educators in (white) settings: Making racial identity visible in Early Childhood Education and Care in England, UK’. For Lancaster University, ‘Promoting Social Justice through Education’ postgraduate module. Online.

  • January 2024- Workshop Lead on ‘Anti-discriminatory practice - putting theory into action Session’. For Feltham Early Years Network. London, England.

  • January 2024 - Speaker on ‘Anti-discriminatory practice with a focus on Communication and Language’. For Connections and Conversations: High Quality Interactions In The Early Years, Newham Nursery Schools Conference 2024. London, England.

2023

  • November 2023 Speaker on ‘Anti-discriminatory practice in the early years’. For Early Education AGM. Delivered online.

  • October 2023 - Workshop Lead on ‘LGBTQ+ Visibility ‘. For Bristol Association for Neighbourhood Daycare Ltd.(BAND), Delivered online.

  • September 2023 - Panellist on ‘Gender Diversity in Early Childhood’. For We Play Festival. Edinburgh, Scotland.

  • September 2023 - Research Presentation on Diversity in Unity: nurturing anti-racist habits in play through Froebelian pedagogies. BERA Conference 2023. Birmingham, England.

  • September 2023 - Speaker on ‘Pecha Kucha - Provoking play’. For We Play Festival. Edinburgh, Scotland.

  • September 2023 - Workshop Lead on ‘Promoting Gender and LGBTQ+ Inclusive Practice’. For Exploring the Power of Play 2023. Hampshire, England.

  • September 2023 ‘ Speaker’ on ‘Equality, inclusion and Anti-Racism approaches in the Early Years’. For Hackney Children and Family Hubs Away Day. London, England.

  • August 2023 - Workshop lead ‘'Embedding Anti-Racism in the Early Years - full day course’. For private nursery. Wiltshire, England

  • August 2023 - Speaker on ‘Reimagining Equality and Inclusion’. For Monkey Puzzle Festi 2023. Woking England.

  • July 2023 - Speaker on ‘Bringing our Full Selves to Work: Reflections on staff diversity’. For The Voice of Early Childhood Conference. Nottingham, England.

  • June 2023 - Research Presentation on ‘Examining the value of beach schools for children through photo-elicitation methods.’ For School of Education Research Day, Bath Spa University. Bath, England.

  • June 2023 Workshop Lead on ‘Embedding Anti-Racism in the Early Years - short course’. For Bristol Association for Neighbourhood Daycare (BAND). Delivered online.

  • June 2023 - Speaker on ‘Supporting Inclusion through Social Justice in the Early Years’. For UHI Inverness ‘Gender and Inclusion in Early Years Practice: Challenges and Opportunities’ Conference. Inverness, Scotland.

  • March 2023 - Speaker on ‘Conversations about Gender and LGBTQ+ Inclusion’. For City of London ‘Early Years Speech Language and Communication Conference' 2023’. London, England.

  • March 2023 - Workshop lead on ‘How to create an anti-racist EY curriculum’. For HfL 2023 National Race Equity Conference: Time to Act. Delivered online.

  • March 2023 - Research presentation on ‘Diversity in Unity’. For Froebel Trust Online Conference 2023. Delivered online (pre-recorded).

  • March 2023 - Workshop lead on ‘No Limits: Supporting Gender-Inclusive Practice in the Early Years’. For EYFS: Brent Early Years Conference 2023 - Back to Basics. London, England.

  • February 2023 - Speaker on ‘Supporting social justice in the early years, maintaining equity and inclusion on a daily basis’. For Early Education Edinburgh & The Lothians Branch. Delivered online.

  • February 2023 - Workshop Lead on ‘Keeping gender on the agenda: Men in the early years’. For The Nursery World Show 2023. London, England.

  • January 2023 - Guest Lecture on ‘Black educators in (white) settings: Making racial identity visible in Early Childhood Education and Care in England, UK’. For Lancaster University, ‘Promoting Social Justice through Education’ postgraduate module. Online.

2022

  • June 2022 - Speaker for ‘National Early Years Debate: A convergence of minds about the status of play’. Online.

  • May 2022 Co-Chair for SERA Early Years Network event: ‘Exploring language and emotions with storytelling and puppets’ Online.

  • April 2022 - Q&A Host for Froebel Spring Webinar: Children & Nature. Online here..

  • April 2022 - Research Presentation on ‘Liminal Relationalities: On collaborative writing with/in and against race in the study of early childhood’. For BSA Virtual Annual Conference 2022. Online.

  • April 2022 - Workshop lead on ‘The role of gender in the early years’. For Best Practice Network, The Virtual Staff Room. Online.

  • March 2022 - Workshop lead on Supporting LGBTQ+ inclusive practice for Birth to 5 Matters Online Spring Festival. Online.

  • March 2022 - Speaker on ‘Keeping Childhood Political: Reflections on social justice in the early years’. For North West Ofsted Big Conversation. Online.

  • March 2022 - Speaker on ‘Race Equity within the Early Years’. For London Borough of Ealing Early Years Conference.

  • March 2022 - Workshop lead on ‘Boys and girls unlimited: Promoting a gender diverse curriculum in the early years’. For Herts for Learning National Early Years Conference 2022. Online

  • February 2022 - Workshop lead on ‘Not Being Neutral: Foregrounding social justice in the early years’. For St Helens Early Years Hub Summit Event. Online.

  • February 2022 - Training on ‘Race and racism in the early years’. For East Renfrewshire Council. Online.

  • February 2022 - Training on ‘Boys and girls unlimited: Promoting a gender diverse curriculum in the early years’. For East Renfrewshire Council. Online.

  • February 2022 - Research Presentation on ‘Liminal Relationalities: On collaborative writing with/in and against race in the study of early childhood’. For European Congress of Qualitative Inquiry 2022. Online.

2021

  • December 2021 - Podcast feature for Herts for Learning. Available here and on Spotify here.

  • November 2021 - Q&A Host for ‘Urgency of Slow’ Webinar. Froebel Trust. Online here.

  • November 2021 - Speaker on ‘A Career in the Early Years?’. For Business in the Community NI and Speakers for Schools. Online.

  • October 2021 - Research Presentation on ‘Making Racial Identity Visible in Early Childhood Education’. For Early Childhood Forum. Online, recording available.

  • September 2021 - Roundtable Speaker on ‘Birth to 5 Matters – the Curriculum Discussion’. For Birth to 5 Matters. Online.

  • September 2021 - Panellist on ‘Effective Delivery of the EYFS 2021 – Supported by Birth to 5 Matters’. For Childcare and Education Expo. Coventry, England.

  • July 2021 - Workshop Lead on ‘Understanding race and racism: A primer for early years practitioners’. For Kinderly Learn. Online.

  • June 2021 - Panellist on BBC Radios 4’s Rethink series. Available here.

  • May 2021 - Speaker on ‘Toward Political Childhoods’. For Upstart’s Play is the Way – Book Group 7 – Inclusion, Equality & Diversity. Online, recorded .

  • March 2021 - Speaker on ‘Race and Racism in the Early Years’. For The Tapestry Education Conference: Reflecting on Anti-racism in the Early Years. Online.

  • March 2021 - Speaker on ‘Promoting Gender Diversity among the Profession #MMOAKITEY’. For Men in Childcare. Edinburgh College. Online.

  • March 2021 - Speaker on ‘Promoting Gender Diversity among the Profession #MMOAKITEY’. For UWS Early Years Professional Practice Learning week. Online.

  • March 2021 - Guest Speaker for ‘Scottish Government CPL: Gender and Language Webinar’. Online

  • February 2021 – Panellist at ‘Birth to Five Matters: Have Your Say’. For Childcare & Education Virtual Summit. Online.

  • February 2021 – Chair for ‘#SERAconnects Early Years: Racism and Wellbeing in the Early Years. For SERA Early Years Network. Online.

  • February 2021 – Speaker on ‘Inclusive Practice’ for Birth to Five Matters – a KEYU event. Online.

  • January 2021 - Workshop Lead on 'Boys and Girls Unlimited: Promoting Gender Diversity In Early Childhood'. Presented to St Helen's EYHUB Virtual Summit 2021. Online.

2020

  • December 2020 - Roundtable Speaker on 'National curriculum: knowledge vs child-centred practise, inclusive pedagogy' for The Black Policy Institute. Online.

  • November 2020 - Research Presentation on 'Race and Racisms in Early Childhood'. Presented to The University of Manchester Childhood Research Group. Online.

  • September 2020 - Workshop Lead on 'Race and Racisms in Early Childhood'. Presented to Childcare & Education Virtual Summit. Online.

  • July 2020 - Workshop Lead on 'No Well-being Until All Black Children are Well: Addressing Race and Racism in Educational Spaces'. Presented to 'NQT in a Recovery Curriculum: Supporting Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference'. Video here. Online.

  • June 2020 - Research Presentation* on 'Heteronormativity in Early Childhood: Identifying how heteronormative practices are maintained, constrained, and can be disrupted in early childhood in Scotland, UK'. Presented to Gender and Education Conference 2020: Gender Complexity, Collaboration, Connectedness (GC3). Calgary, Canada.*Cancelled due to coronavirus.

  • May 2020 - Research Presentation on 'Heteronormativity in Early Childhood: Identifying how heteronormative practices are maintained, constrained, and can be disrupted in early childhood in Scotland, UK'. Presented to ATGender Spring Conference. London, England.*Cancelled due to coronavirus.

  • April 2020 - Research Presentation* on 'Heteronormativity in Early Childhood: Identifying how heteronormative practices are maintained, constrained, and can be disrupted in early childhood in Scotland, UK'. Presented to BSA Annual Conference 2020: Reimagining Social Bodies: Self, Institutions and Societies. Birmingham, England. *Cancelled due to coronavirus.

  • February 2020 - Research Presentation on 'Gender and Heteronormativity in Early Learning and Childcare’. Presented at SERA Early Years Network: Spring Event “Evolving practitioner identities". Glasgow, Scotland.

  • February 2020 - Guest Lecture on 'Decent and Fair Work'. Presented to The Contemporary Labour Market module, as part of the MSc Career Guidance and Development course. Paisley, Scotland.

  • February 2020 - Workshop Co-Lead on 'Not Just For Women! Untapping Rich Career Choices'. Presented at Early Years Needs You! Regional Showcase Event. Ayrshire College, Kilmarnock, Scotland.

  • January 2020 - Research Presentation on 'Heteronormativity in Early Childhood: Identifying how heteronormative practices are maintained, constrained, and can be disrupted in early childhood in Scotland, UK' - at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Transfer Event. Paisley, Scotland.

2019

  • November 2019 - Presentation on 'Reflections on Gender and LGBT+ Inclusive Education in Early Learning and Childcare'. Presented to Gender Commission (Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board) at Early Years Scotland, Professional Learning Academy in Glasgow, Scotland.

  • November 2019 - Research Presentation on 'Heteronormativity in Early Childhood: Identifying how heteronormative practices are maintained, constrained, and can be disrupted in early childhood in Scotland, UK' - at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) Research Colloquium, Division of Education. Paisley, Scotland.

  • September 2019 - Speaker, Panelist and Workshop Co-Lead at 'Men in Early Years Seminar', a joint Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland event in Stirling, Scotland.

  • September 2019 - Panelist at the Fourth National Men in The Early Years (MITEY) Conference: Bringing Men into the Early Years - The Why and The How 2019, Westminster, London.

  • June 2019 - Research Presentation on 'Heteronormativity in Early Childhood Practice' as part of 'Feminist New Materialist Encounters with Gender in Early Childhood Contexts' symposium at Gender and Education Conference 2019, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.

  • June 2019 - Speaker on 'Heteronormativity in Early Childhood Practice' at Childhood Practice Conference, University of Glasgow.

  • March 2019 – Workshop Lead on ‘Race and Racism in the Early Years’ at Firm Foundations Conference 2, Bath Spa University.

  • January 2019 - Panelist at ‘A Career in Early Years is waiting for You!’ event, Glasgow.

2018

  • December 2018 - Published article in Early Years Educator titled ‘We need to talk about racism’

  • October 2018 - Keynote PM on ‘Boys, Men and Gender in the Early Years’ at Equal Play conference, City Hall, London.

  • July 2018 – Oversaw 3rd National Gender in the Early Years Conference with Bristol Men in Early Years Network, Bristol.

  • May 2018 – Speaker at Tiger Gender Equality Community Exhibition. Bristol.

  • March 2018 – Guest on the The Victoria Derbyshire show, BBC2, to discuss how diversity in the Early Years profession can be improved.

  • February 2018 - Workshop Lead on "More men in the early years?" For Best Practice Network, Bristol.

  • February 2018 – Guest on the Gender Knot podcast to discuss the difference between sex and gender, why we should be challenging the imbalance in the Early Years and the issue of status and professionalism in the workforce.

  • October 2017 – Workshop Lead on ‘How to Build your own local network’ at the national Men in The Early Years (MITEY) conference, Bradford.

  • March 2017 – Speaker on “The implications of Gender Stereotyping” at Zero Tolerance: Making Respectful Men conference, Bristol.