As Founding Director of the award winning training network in the cultural and education sectors, Ruth Churchill Dower established Earlyarts in 2002 and scaled it up to have a UK footprint in 2009. In 2013 we officially became an international research and training company, helping early years and primary leaders to achieve the highest standards in teaching and learning by building a team of inspiring, passionate and highly skilled teachers.

Our vision is to enable hundreds of educators and artists to embed creative approaches to teaching and learning, that help young children achieve outstanding results across the whole curriculum and fulfil their incredible potential.

Ruth is a prolific author and media commentator, bringing insight and debate to key issues in creative early education through her training, writing, speaking and consultancy.

In 2009, Ruth won the Ogunte Women’s Social Leadership Awards for her work in building Earlyarts to make real change happen in young children’s lives. Ruth has worked closely with Baroness Estelle Morris of Yardley (former UK Secretary of State for Education – 2001, and Minister for the Arts – 2002) on leadership development, and with the late Sir Ken Robinson, both of whom were Patrons of Earlyarts.

Ruth lives in Yorkshire, UK, with her two children and spends any free time in the hills and mountains paragliding, climbing, biking, puddle-splashing and generally having as much fun with her children as possible before tea.