29 September - 1 October 2026
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The Arena, Riyadh | Saudi Arabia.
Maria Johnson
Teacher/Owner/Manager - Little School, New Zealand
Maria Johnson is a qualified primary and early childhood educator with over 40 years of classroom experience working alongside teachers, children, and families. She holds degrees in both Primary and Early Childhood Education and has completed specialist training in Integrated Listening Systems (ILS).
An award-winning education leader in New Zealand, Maria was most recently recognised as a finalist in the national Leadership Awards and has received multiple awards for her contribution to pedagogy and professional development.
Maria has founded and led seven early childhood centres in New Zealand, embedding neuroscience-informed, movement-based, and relational approaches into daily practice. Her work focuses on strengthening the neurodevelopmental foundations that support academic progress, social confidence, and emotional regulation.
In 2025, she began collaborating with educators in Saudi Arabia to implement brain-aligned teaching practices within early childhood settings, where measurable improvements in engagement and learning readiness have been observed.
Her professional mission is to advance early childhood education globally by translating neuroscience into practical classroom strategies -changing education around the world so that no child is left behind.
Speaker Sessions
Leaders in Education
1499
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بناء أسس قوية: التميز في تعليم الطفولة المبكرة في السياق السعودي
Session Summary:
يُعد تعليم الطفولة المبكرة حجر الزاوية للتعلم مدى الحياة، حيث يشكل التطور المعرفي والاجتماعي والعاطفي خلال السنوات الأكثر أهمية من النمو البشري. تستكشف هذه الجلسة المناهج القائمة على الأدلة في تعليم الطفولة المبكرة التي تتماشى مع التزام رؤية السعودية 2030 بالتميز التعليمي والقيم الثقافية. سيكتشف المشاركون كيفية إنشاء بيئات تعليمية مناسبة للنمو تحترم التراث السعودي بينما تُعد المتعلمين الصغار للنجاح في مشهد عالمي سريع التطور. تؤكد الجلسة على الاستراتيجيات العملية لتنفيذ التعلم القائم على اللعب، وتعزيز تطوير اللغة العربية، وبناء شراكات قوية بين العائلات والمعلمين والمجتمعات. انضم إلى هذه الجلسة من أجل:
• تعلم كيفية إنشاء بيئات تعليمية مناسبة للنمو تدمج القيم الثقافية السعودية والمبادئ الإسلامية وتطوير اللغة العربية مع دمج أفضل الممارسات الدولية في تعليم الطفولة المبكرة
• اكتشاف كيفية تطبيق التعلم القائم على اللعب، والاستكشاف القائم على الاستقصاء، وأطر التعلم الاجتماعي العاطفي التي تدعم التطور الشامل للطفل وتُعد الطلاب للنجاح الأكاديمي المستقبلي بما يتماشى مع أهداف رؤية 2030
• استكشاف استراتيجيات إشراك العائلات والمجتمعات كشركاء نشطين في تعليم الطفولة المبكرة، وإنشاء شبكات داعمة تمتد بالتعلم إلى ما وراء الفصل الدراسي وتعزز الهوية الثقافية مع تعزيز التميز التعليمي
Speakers
Maryum Nawaz
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Partnership Development Manager MENA - FinlandWay Preschools
Shahad Obaid
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Assistant Head Primary - Student Experience and Progress - Beechhall School Riyadh
Jennifer Mayorga
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Elementary School Teacher - American Schools Dhahran (International Schools Group)
Adila Naidoo
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Assistant Head of Primary & Academics - Beech Hall School Riyadh
Maisa Almatrafi
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Early Childhood Educator KAUST Section - Building Blocks School
Maria Johnson
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Teacher/Owner/Manager - Little School, New Zealand
Categories
Pre-school and Early Years
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Building Strong Foundations: Early Childhood Education Excellence in the Saudi Context
Session Summary:
Early childhood education serves as the cornerstone of lifelong learning, shaping cognitive, social, and emotional development during the most critical years of human growth. This session explores evidence-based approaches to early childhood education that align with Saudi Vision 2030's commitment to educational excellence and cultural values. Participants will discover how to create developmentally appropriate learning environments that honour Saudi heritage while preparing young learners for success in a rapidly evolving global landscape. The session emphasises practical strategies for implementing play-based learning, fostering Arabic language development, and building strong partnerships between families, educators, and communities. Join this session to:
• Learn to create developmentally appropriate educational settings that integrate Saudi cultural values, Islamic principles, and Arabic language development while incorporating international best practices in early childhood education
• Discover how to apply play-based learning, inquiry-driven exploration, and social-emotional learning frameworks that support holistic child development and prepare students for future academic success aligned with Vision 2030 goals
• Explore strategies for engaging families and communities as active partners in early childhood education, creating supportive networks that extend learning beyond the classroom and strengthen cultural identity while promoting educational excellence
Speakers
Maryum Nawaz
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Partnership Development Manager MENA - FinlandWay Preschools
