The early years were at the heart of a two-day gathering in Bengaluru as Kai Early Years and Kai CIRCLE hosted the second edition of the Transforming the Early Years (TEY) Conference on September 25–26 at the Kai Early Years campus in Whitefield. Bringing together more than 120 educators and school leaders from international schools across India, the conference created a space for meaningful conversations around early childhood education, leadership and the well-being of educators.

Designed as two interconnected days of learning, the conference offered distinct programmes for school leaders and educators, combining keynote addresses, masterclasses and opportunities to exchange ideas and experiences from the field.

The first day, Leaders Day (September 25), turned the spotlight on the people and practices that shape school communities. Discussions examined school culture, relationships, leadership and wellbeing, with educator and author Gavin McCormack exploring the connection between neuroscience and classroom practice, alongside approaches to creating positive school cultures. Jennifer Sait, Co-Founder and Director of Learning and Development at Kai Early Years and Kai CIRCLE, led a session examining the emotional demands of leadership and ways of nurturing stronger, more connected school communities.

The focus shifted to classroom practice and the child’s experience on Educators Day, held on September 26. McCormack’s keynote explored the importance of connection, trust and belonging in early childhood learning. Masterclasses led by Mrunal Shah, Fatima Asghar and Manju Nair delved into purposeful play, educator well-being and ways of making children’s thinking more visible in the classroom.

A distinctive feature of the conference was TEY EDTalks, which placed educators themselves at the centre of the conversation. Selected practitioners were given eight minutes to share experiences, ideas and practices drawn from their work with children and families. The platform also featured the TEY Changemaker Award, recognising educators whose work has made a meaningful contribution to children and families through early childhood education.

TEY 2026 thus served as a forum for practitioners to pause, reflect, learn from one another and take fresh ideas back to their schools. Its second edition reinforced the continued commitment of Kai Early Years and Kai CIRCLE to building professional communities where educators and school leaders can learn, collaborate and strengthen early years practice.