BESA Early Years Special Interest Group

Early Years Special Interest Group members are suppliers of products and services to the Early Years sector.

2026 meeting dates:

Tuesday 10 February 2026, 11am-12:30pm
Wednesday 24 June 2026, 11am-12:30pm
Tuesday 13 October 2026, 11am-12:30pm

Chair: Ysanne Heald

Director, TEEM Education

Ysanne Heald is an education specialist whose career spans classroom practice, educational publishing, software development, research, and consultancy. She founded TEEM Education Ltd in 1994 and has since led major projects for education suppliers, government departments, local authorities, schools and nurseries. Her work supports all phases of education—from early years to further education—with a particular focus on the impact of digital resources on learning and the conditions required for their effective use in education. In recent years, TEEM has concentrated on strengthening the early years sector, developing resources and approaches that support children to experience the best possible start in life.

Dedicated to bridging the gap between education and industry, Ysanne champions collaboration to address sector challenges and build sustainable, innovative solutions. She has been an active contributor to the British Educational Suppliers Association, serving two terms on the BESA Council and chairing the Early Years Special Interest Group.

Ysanne is currently a Director of TEEM Education Ltd, a Governor of the Cambridge Nursery Federation, and a Fellow of the RSA. as an additional language gives her a particular focus on literacy and language development.

How to join:

Joining the Early Years Special Interest Group is free and open to BESA members only.

Step 1) Click ‘Apply to join’ and login to the Portal. If you need help navigating the portal have a look at the Portal Manual or get in touch with us at eventsteam@besa.org.uk.

Step 2) Send in your application letter stating that you want to join the group using the example application letter as a guide.

In your application you must confirm:

that your primary activity is the supplying of products or services for teaching and learning in the Early Years sector
that you are happy to share ideas with the rest of the group and are committed to developing and taking the Group forward
that you are committed to a level playing field in the market
that you meet the Group’s Terms of Reference

Step 3) Your application will then be presented to the group for approval & you’ll be emailed if your application is successful.

Meetings take place three times a year online, and you are expected to attend each meeting.

Example application letter:

I am writing on behalf of (company) to apply to join the Early Years Special Interest Group.

Paragraph confirming that

i) Your primary activity is the supplying of products or services for teaching and learning in the Early Years sector.

Paragraph confirming that

ii) You are happy to share ideas with the rest of the EYSIG Group
iii) Committed to developing and taking the Group forward
iv) Committed to a level playing field in the market
v) You can meet the Group’s Terms of Reference

Yours sincerely,

Who are the group members?

Terms of reference:

Members of the Group must be full or associate members or Launchpad companies of BESA and suppliers of products or services to the Early Years sector.
The Group is known as the ‘Early Years Special Interest Group’ (EYSIG).
The Group should have two or three meetings a year, unless the Group wants more.
As agreed by the founding members of EYSIG, any member or Launchpad company of BESA may make a written application to the BESA secretariat to join the Group and such applications will be presented to the Group via e-mail.
Applicants that can demonstrate to the Group, by justifying their area of expertise within Early Years, that they fit the description defined in paragraph a), shall be admitted to membership of the Group. Members will have two weeks to comment on submissions and no comment means an application is approved. If the Secretariat receives any objections the application will be referred to the next meeting.
Member companies need to attend a minimum of two meeting per year. If the minimum requirement is not met, the company may be asked to leave the Group and will have to reapply for membership.
When attending a meeting, members need to be ready to contribute to all areas of meeting unless not relevant.
When attending a meeting, members need to be ready to interact to the polls, Q&A’s and have their camera turned on.
When attending a meeting, members need to ensure that they are in a suitable location without distractions.
The Group is entitled to call meetings which will be serviced by the BESA secretariat. Any abnormal costs may have to be charged.
In the event of the Group deciding to undertake a course of action leading to or becoming liable to any costs or expenditure over and above the provision expressed in paragraph 7) then such expenditure shall be borne by members of the Group.
In the event of the Group wishing BESA to undertake a course of action on its behalf such proposed action shall first be approved by the Executive Council.
The Chairman of the Group will be co-opted to membership of the Executive Council of BESA. The Chairman of BESA is, ex officio, a member of the Group and is entitled to attend its meetings.
The Chairman of the Group has the responsibility of organising a guest for each meeting, this responsibility is not for members of the group.
The Chair and Vice-Chair shall be serve for three years, subject to re-election for a fourth year, four years being the maximum period of continuous service in one office. The Chair and Vice-Chair shall be from separate member companies.
Members of the group consent to data sharing between BESA and the Chair/Vice-Chair of the group in line with BESA’s Privacy Policy.
Based on one vote per member company, decisions taken at a Group meeting will be a simple majority with the Chair having a casting vote.

Join the community

Whether you’re joining us as a Full Member or subscribing to the Launchpad programme, your business will need to meet our membership criteria and sign up to our Code of Practice. Take the next step and see what is involved in this commitment.

Become a member