Day 1: Saturday – Arrival and Welcome Dinner
Arrival Day
Afternoon:
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Arrival & Hotel Check-in
Welcome to London! Arrive at your hotel and check in. Get settled and freshen up for the evening.
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Welcome Reception
Meet your fellow retreat participants, enjoy light snacks, and have an informal gathering to get to know each other.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Welcome Dinner & Drinks
Location: Rooftop Bar/Restaurant with panoramic views of London (possibly overlooking iconic landmarks like the London Eye, Big Ben, or St. Paul's Cathedral).
Enjoy a delicious welcome dinner with a mix of local British cuisine and cocktails, followed by some casual mingling and socialisng. This sets the tone for a week of learning and networking.
Day 2: Sunday – Quintessential London Tour Day
Theme: Elegance, Exploration & Iconic Moments
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast at the Hotel
Begin the day with a delicious breakfast to energise for a full day of sightseeing.
9:30 AM – 11:00 AMNotting Hill & Portobello Road Market
Enjoy a scenic walk through the iconic neighborhood of Notting Hill, known for its pastel townhouses and charming streets.
Explore the lively Portobello Road Market, famous for vintage goods, antiques, and street performers.
Optional: Enjoy a quick coffee at a local favorite such as Farm Girl Café or Granger & Co.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PMBuckingham Palace & St. James’s Park
Visit the exterior of Buckingham Palace. If timed right, catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
Take a peaceful walk through St. James’s Park, one of London’s most picturesque green spaces.
Pause at the lake bridge for stunning views of the palace framed by nature.
1:00 PM – 2:30 PMHigh Tea Experience
Location Options:
The Goring Hotel (near Buckingham Palace)
Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon (Piccadilly)
Enjoy a luxurious British high tea, featuring finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream, fine teas, and delicate pastries in an elegant setting.
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Covent Garden Exploration
Discover the bustling atmosphere of Covent Garden, filled with boutique shops, artisan stalls, and live street performances.
Wander through the Apple Market and explore the charming corners of Neal’s Yard.
Optional: Stop for a sweet treat or coffee at Venchi or Monmouth Coffee.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PMRiver Thames Sightseeing Cruise
Depart from Westminster Pier or Tower Pier for a narrated cruise along the River Thames.
View many of London’s most iconic landmarks from the water, including:
Tower Bridge
London Eye
The Shard
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
Option for a sunset cruise if daylight permits.
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Optional)Dinner in Soho
End the day with a relaxed dinner in the lively Soho neighborhood. Recommended options include:
Dishoom (Indian cuisine in a vintage Bombay setting)
Nopi (modern Middle Eastern by Ottolenghi)
Flat Iron (contemporary steakhouse with a cozy vibe)
Day 3: Monday – Leading with Impact
Focus: Leadership Skills in Early Childhood Education
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast
Energising buffet breakfast to start the day.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Session 1 – "Igniting Passion in Educators"
Focus on reigniting your passion for teaching and leadership. Discuss strategies for staying motivated and inspired.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Session 2 – "Building a Growth Mindset"
Learn how to build a growth mindset for yourself and your team, focusing on resilience and adaptability.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Session 3 – "Self-Reflection & Leadership"
Develop your self-reflection skills to enhance leadership effectiveness and team collaboration.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
A light, nutritious lunch to refuel.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Session 4 – "Empowering Educators to Lead"
Discuss ways to empower other educators, helping them grow into leadership roles and create a strong team.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Session 5 – "Building a Supportive Team Culture"
Learn practical techniques for fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Session 6 – "Communicating with Impact"
Explore communication strategies for effectively engaging with both colleagues and children in your care.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner
A relaxing dinner, possibly with a mix of British comfort food or modern European cuisine.
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Reflection and Networking
Share your insights from the day in an informal group setting, focusing on how to apply these strategies in your work environment.
Day 4: Tuesday – Wellbeing for Educators
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast
Energising buffet breakfast to start the day.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Session 7 – "Wellbeing for Educators: The Foundation of Sustainability"
Discuss the importance of prioritizing your own wellbeing to sustain a long and successful career in education.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Session 8 – "Mindfulness in Education"
Learn mindfulness techniques that can help you stay grounded and present in your work.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Session 9 – "Building Emotional Resilience"
Develop strategies to cope with stress and build emotional resilience in yourself and your team.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
A light lunch with a focus on fresh, wholesome ingredients.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Session 10 – "Maintaining Balance and Preventing Burnout"
Learn practical ways to avoid burnout and maintain balance in your work and personal life.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Session 11 – "Wellbeing Strategies for Teams"
Explore strategies for fostering wellbeing in your team and creating a culture of care.
**3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Walk in Hyde Park
Location: Hyde Park
Duration: 1 hour
Take a peaceful stroll through Hyde Park. Perfect time to connect with nature, refresh your mind, and reflect on the day's learning.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner
Enjoy a light and healthy dinner to close out the day.
Day 5: Wednesday – Supporting Children’s Behavior
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast
A light, energising breakfast to start your final day.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Session 12 – "Understanding Child Development & Behavior"
Explore the key stages of child development and how they relate to behavior.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Session 13 – "Positive Redirection Strategies"
Learn about positive Redirection techniques that foster empathy, respect, and responsibility in children.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Session 14 – "Addressing Challenging Behavior"
Focus on practical strategies for managing challenging behavior in a supportive way.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
Light lunch, possibly focusing on fresh salads and nutritious options.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Session 15 – "Creating an Inclusive Environment"
Learn how to create an inclusive and welcoming environment that supports all children's needs.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Session 16 – "Supporting Emotional Regulation"
Discuss techniques to help children regulate their emotions and manage stress.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Case Study Workshop
Work through real-life case studies and discuss practical solutions.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner
Enjoy a relaxed dinner at a traditional British pub or a modern bistro.
Day 6: Thursday – Deep Dive into Leadership
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast
A light, energising breakfast to start your final day.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Session 17 – "Effective Leadership in Early Childhood"
Discuss leadership strategies and qualities of a successful leader in early childhood education.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Session 18 – "Mentoring and Coaching"
Learn how to mentor and coach others to become effective leaders within your team.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Session 19 – "Building a Collaborative Team"
Focus on how to foster teamwork and collaboration to support shared goals.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
Enjoy lunch together, discussing the morning’s sessions and connecting further with your peers.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Session 20 – "Creating a Vision for Your Center"
Learn how to create and implement a vision that aligns with your values and goals.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Session 21 – "Sustaining Leadership"
Discuss how to maintain momentum and sustain leadership skills over time.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Group Reflection & Feedback
Reflect on the week's learnings and provide feedback for future sessions.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner
A celebratory dinner, perhaps featuring international cuisine.
Day 7: Friday – Reflection, Integration, and Celebration
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast
A light, energising breakfast to start your final day.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Session 22 – "Integrating What You’ve Learned"
Reflect on the retreat and discuss how to apply strategies in your work.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Session 23 – "Creating a Personal Growth Plan"
Develop a plan for continuing professional and personal development.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Session 24 – "Setting Long-Term Goals for Your Career"
Focus on setting long-term, actionable goals and staying motivated.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
A celebratory final lunch together.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Group Reflection & Closing Ceremony
Reflect on your journey and share commitments for moving forward.
7:00 PM – Celebration Dinner & Drinks
A celebratory dinner to close the retreat.
Day 8: Saturday – Departure7:30 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast & Farewell
Enjoy a final breakfast before check-out.
9:00 AM: Check-out & Departure
Check-out and depart.
This itinerary gives a full, dynamic experience balancing deep professional growth, personal reflection, and enjoyable exploration of London. Let me know if anything else needs adjusting!