Dr Pete King is currently the Programme Director for the MA Developmental and Therapeutic Play programme in the Department for Public Health, Policy and Social Sciences at Swansea University. He is also a Play and Playwork Researcher and has been published both nationally and internationally in journals and published books.

Pete’s recent publications include The Play Cycle: Theory, Research and Application, which he co-authored with Gordon Sturrock, and the forthcoming book Play Across Childhood: International Perspectives on Diverse Contexts of Play, which he is co-editing with Dr Shelly Newstead.

Pete has developed and piloted the Play Cycle Observation Method (PCOM) that enables the recording of the process of play based on the Play Cycle. The method was piloted in ‘real-time’ in a pre-school playground in Oklahoma, USA.

Pete’s professional practice includes working in pre-school playgroups, after-school clubs and open-access play projects. His current research has been looking at the impact of Covid-19 on playwork and playwork practice.

Dr Stella Louis is a freelance Early Years Consultant, Trainer and Author working with individual nursery settings, parents, nursery schools, local authorities, government departments and charities. She is particularly interested in observation and its part in developing learning, especially through children’s schemas, and has written extensively about both subjects.

Stella leads a small team of Froebelian travelling tutors in promoting, developing and delivering the short Froebel Trust courses in England. She has worked both in the United Kingdom and internationally, in South Africa, where she worked with teachers to develop a Froebelian approach to teaching and learning.

Sarah is a Forest School Leader and University Lecturer, teaching child development and inclusion. An ex-head teacher, Sarah knew all the best outdoor hiding places, as it was the school she attended as a child! In the classroom, Sarah specialised in early years and is a columnist for Teach Early Years.

Sarah’s first book, Outdoor Play for Healthy Little Minds, was published recently by Routledge and guides early years practitioners through the best outdoor play strategies for developing young children’s mental and physical well-being.

Before teaching, Sarah managed projects for a national digital media charity, giving a platform to unheard voices.

Liz Roberts became Editor-in-Chief of Nursery World in April 2021, having been editor of the title since 1997. She oversees editorial strategy and initiatives for the Nursery World brand, including print, online, conferences, awards and training videos. Liz frequently chairs and speaks at early years sector conferences and webinars.