The TAIP Fall Conference 2026 brings together educators from across Tokyo's international school community to explore the science behind how young children learn, and how to bring more science into everyday Early Years classrooms.

Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Location: International School of the Sacred Heart, 4-3-1 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Format: In-person keynote and hands-on workshops
Fees: TAIP Members ¥6,000 per person, Non-members ¥11,000 per person
Certificate: 5 hours of professional development
Lunch: Included, provided by Kiwi Kitchen, with a choice of chicken or vegetarian

The morning focuses on the science of Early Years learning: what neuroscience tells us about how young children think, explore, and make sense of the world. The afternoon turns to practice, with hands-on activities and practical ideas you can take straight back to your classroom.

Conference Schedule

8:45 to 9:15 Sign in at the entrance, enjoy coffee and meet our Associate Members

9:15 to 9:30 Welcome and logistics

9:30 to 12:00 AM Keynote

12:00 to 1:00 Lunch provided by Kiwi Kitchen

1:00 to 1:45 Hands-On Session 1

1:45 to 2:00 Break

2:00 to 2:45 Hands-On Session 2

2:45 to 3:00 Break

3:00 to 3:45 Hands-On Session 3

3:45 to 4:00 Break

4:00 to 4:30 Conference Reflection (15 min), Networking and Exhibitor Raffle

Morning Keynote: The Science of Play: Brain Development, Inquiry and Early Learning

What is really happening when a child builds, experiments, negotiates, struggles, redesigns and tries again?

Daniel Prieto and Hitoko Tanaka, Tokyo West International School

The Science of Play explores the learning beneath everyday Early Years play. By connecting neuroscience and child development with authentic classroom practice, Daniel and Hitoko examine how play supports executive function, language, emotional regulation, movement, social interaction, creativity and early scientific thinking.

The central question is not simply whether children should play, but how educators can learn to see, understand, document and intentionally extend the learning already happening through play while protecting children's curiosity and agency.

Daniel brings a neuroscience and developmental lens to the everyday experiences of play, inquiry, collaboration and problem-solving, while Hitoko brings the Early Years classroom and leadership lens, grounding the session in authentic practice and children's learning. Together, they offer educators a fresh perspective on why play is such a powerful foundation for early learning, and practical ideas to bring play-based inquiry to life in their own classrooms.

Daniel Prieto School Principal and Director of Teaching and Learning at Tokyo West International School, with more than a decade of experience in international and IB education across Spain, the Netherlands, Uruguay and Japan, and a background in neuroscience and education.

Hitoko Tanaka Head of Early Years at Tokyo West International School, where she leads the development of play-based and inquiry-driven learning for young children, including Inquiry Lab and STEM-inspired experiences.

Hands-On Sessions

Three hands-on sessions give participants the chance to try activities as learners, then think about how to adapt them for their own children and classrooms. Choose one workshop in each session. Once you have registered, we will send you a form to choose your afternoon workshops.

Session 1: 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM (Choose one)

Drawing On Da Vinci: Art & Science In Your Classroom (& Beyond)

Divya Marie Kato FRSA, Atelier Kato Tokyo
Location: Cafeteria

Art and science naturally overlap. Both are ways of investigating the world, and both bring ideas and hypotheses to life where mind and hand come together. This workshop explores the relationship between art and science over time, with tips and tricks from twenty years of championing this creative collaboration in studios across Japan. Come and discover what the A in STEAM truly stands for, so you can stand up for it too!

Divya Marie Kato FRSA An artist-educator with more than twenty years of experience in art education, working as a specialist, a consultant and the director of Atelier Kato, a Tokyo art studio and drawing school.

Making the Invisible Visible: Exploring Physics, Provoking Wonder

Evi Troizi
Location: Library

From rolling balls to shifting shadows, children are always building theories about the world around them. In this workshop, Evi invites educators to explore how young learners form ideas about the physical world, and how thoughtfully designed environments can spark wonder, investigation and representation.

Evi Troizi Evi has explored pedagogy in classrooms around the world, from the municipal schools of Reggio Emilia to international schools across Europe and Asia. Today, she works with schools to turn these insights into everyday practice.

Session 2: 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM (Choose one)

Beyond Language: What Would You Do, and How Would You Say It?

Miyuki Kurihara and Tracy-ann Duru, Gogaku Kentei Kyoukai (LPTA)
Location: Library

Through realistic scenarios involving children, families and colleagues, this interactive workshop explores not only what we would do, but how we communicate it clearly, respectfully and professionally. Tracy-ann and Miyuki also invite participants to consider what may change, and what may stay the same, across languages and cultural contexts.

Miyuki Kurihara An early childhood educator with over 10 years of experience in international preschool settings in Tokyo, and an adjunct lecturer at Kyoritsu Women's Junior College. She holds a master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Tracy-ann Duru An English educator and university lecturer at Rikkyo University and Sacred Heart University, with an MEd in TESOL. She is currently completing a hoikushi (nursery teacher) training programme.

Learning Differences, Executive Functioning Skills, and the Transition to Elementary School

Nikolai Kawabata Jessen-Petersen, Tokyo International Progressive School
Location: Main Room

The transition from preschool to elementary school can be difficult for students. Executive functioning skills, such as organization, time management, working memory and metacognition, are necessary for success in school. Students with possible learning differences may have greater challenges with these skills, and as a result, may find it harder to use their strengths effectively in school. Executive functioning skills can be developed and strengthened, and this workshop goes over how.

Nikolai Kawabata Jessen-Petersen Student Support Specialist at Tokyo International Progressive School for the past 9 years, with more than 11 years of experience in student support. He also consults with schools on inclusive education, and has presented for TAIP before.

Session 3: 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM (Choose one)

Little Scientists, Big Ideas: Building Scientific Thinking Through Inquiry

Gia Caballa, Shinagawa International School
Location: Library

Gia is particularly interested in how inquiry-based learning can nurture children's thinking, curiosity and communication in the Early Years. In this workshop, she shares practical ways to help our youngest learners think like scientists, offering educators fresh ideas to bring into their own classrooms.

Gia Caballa Kindergarten homeroom teacher at Shinagawa International School and an IBEN Workshop Leader. Her practice is centred on inquiry, conceptual learning and play.

STEAM Beyond the Specialist: Making Transdisciplinary Learning Visible in the Early Years

Jasmine Costello, Shinagawa International School
Location: Cafeteria

In this hands-on workshop, Jasmine explores how specialist learning can become more connected, playful and purposeful. She shares her approach to play-based learning, inquiry and inclusion, and how she designs experiences where young children explore concepts in different ways, make choices, collaborate and show what they understand. Educators will leave feeling confident in the skills they already have, and curious about new ideas to try in their own classrooms.

Participants will experience three practical learning stations based around the Who We Are unit:

Paper Doll Making: Design, Engineering & Identity
Playdough Magic: Exploring the Senses & Materials
Special Songs: Identity, Culture & Communication

Jasmine Costello IB PYP specialist teacher (Arts, Music and PSPE) at Shinagawa International School, with more than 12 years of experience in early years education in the UK and Japan, and degrees in Inclusive Education.

Good to Know

Getting there: There is no parking for cars or bicycles. Please use public transportation.
Registration closes: November 1st at 5:00 PM