10 – 12 November 2026
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Dubai World Trade Centre Sheikh Saeed Halls 1, 2 & 3
May Zalat
Inclusion Director - Kids First Group (KFG)
May Zalat is a passionate and driven leader in early childhood education and inclusive practice, she is the Inclusion Director at Kids First Group (KFG) — a leading early years provider across the UAE and beyond. In this role, May leads the group’s vision for inclusive education, ensuring that every child, regardless of ability or background, has access to high-quality, nurturing, and supportive learning environments.
Alongside her role at KFG, May is the Founder of the IECE Initiative — an advocacy platform committed to raising standards in early years education across the sector. Through IECE, May offers free monthly training sessions to educators from all nurseries, recognizing that not every setting has the resources to provide the professional development their teams need.
Speaker Sessions
GESS Talks Live
1628
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Panel Session: Quality in Early Childhood Panel by IECE
Session Summary:
This talk explores what "quality" truly means in early years education and beyond, beyond curriculum checklists, compliance, the classroom walls and extending it to the outside environment as well. The panel aims to share practical insights into building a culture of quality that is inclusive, reflective, and sustainable.
The discussion will highlight key drivers of quality, including responsive educator-child relationships, pedagogical approaches, continuous professional development, and strong parent partnerships. We will also discuss how structured leadership, process management, and thoughtful environment design contribute to ongoing quality enhancement.
This talk aims to inspire early years professionals and leaders to view quality not as a fixed goal, but as an evolving journey - one that requires collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to every child’s right to belong and thrive, high-quality early years education is a holistic approach one that lays the foundation not only for academic success, but also for emotional resilience, social awareness, and lifelong well-being, raising tolerant, confident individuals equipped to prosper in a diverse and evolving world.
Speakers:
May Zalat
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Inclusion Director - Kids First Group (KFG)
Lara Hudson
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Director of Early Childhood and Development - Innoventures Education
Sana Bilal
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Group Manager - Academics & Operations - Kids Kingdom Learning Centers & Kids Castle Early Childhood Centre
Samia Khwaja
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Head of Curriculum - Kids First Group
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Inclusion and Wellbeing in Early Childhood
Session Summary:
This interactive session explores the powerful connection between inclusion and wellbeing in the early years. Educators will learn how to create environments where every child feels seen, valued, and supported - regardless of their background, ability, or needs.
We’ll unpack the principles of inclusive practice and how they directly impact children's emotional, social, and cognitive wellbeing. Through real-life scenarios, reflective discussions, and practical strategies, participants will walk away with tools to:
Promote a sense of belonging and safety for all children
Identify and reduce barriers to participation and learning
Support the emotional wellbeing of both children and staff
Foster inclusive routines, environments, and interactions
Partner with families in meaningful and respectful ways
This session is designed to empower educators with the mindset, skills, and heart to make inclusion and wellbeing everyday priorities in their classroom - not just ideals.
Speakers:
May Zalat
|
Inclusion Director - Kids First Group (KFG)
Categories:
Wellbeing and Mental Health
// GESS EDUCATION INSIGHTS
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