Just about every conceivable education resource will be on display when the Show takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from Thursday March 26 until Saturday March 28 and as always, many of the 600-plus exhibitors will be unveiling new products.
Keith Clifford, Marketing Manager for Show organisers Emap Connect explained: "The strength of The Education Show has always been its ability to put teachers in face-to-face contact with manufacturers and distributors of the complete cross-section of educatio0n products.
"We get the same feedback every year. Teachers love the fact that they can see and touch products that they feel will provide solutions within the classroom, and that's why we have adopted the Show strapline."
And it's not just teachers who get the benefits because a large proportion of the 15,000-plus visitors each year are bursars, heads, senior managers, governors and local authority representatives.
They are keen to take advantage of the unrivalled opportunity to discover what is fresh on the market in an exciting and informative environment, and to share ideas by networking with experts and peers.
From an exhibitor's stand-point, the Show represents a three-day period that promises to have a huge impact on their financial year. The potential is illustrated by a survey carried out at the Show which revealed that each visitor had an average of £3,275 to spend - a combined buying power of more than £55 million.
And exhibitors, who range from major companies to the proverbial "one-man band", are very aware that it's an event which can significantly influence their fortunes.
One of the new feature areas of The Education Show for 2009 is a New Products Demonstration & Training Zone, where exhibitors will have the opportunity to not only profile their latest products but also give visitors the chance to discover how they work, in a hands-on fashion.
That's in response to feedback from visitors, who have said they would value the opportunity to get instruction on how to work certain products - and perfectly fits in with the "see it, touch it, teach it" theme.
Another major new feature area will be The Big Bang. Organised in conjunction with The Association for Science Education, this will involve a programme of eight workshops on each of the three days and is designed to help re-establish science as a subject to excite teachers and pupils alike.
According to ASE manager Rebecca Dixon-Watmough, explosive entertainment wlll be guaranteed as live experiments bring a new dimension to the event. She said: "We are really excited to be able to work with the organisers on this feature because it is just what science needs at the moment.
"For some reason the subject is now regarded by many as unfashionable and we need to change that perception and get people thinking positively about how important it is to engage children in science."
An Ofsted Report during the summer warned that ‘hands-on' science was in danger of becoming a thing of the past because too many teachers don't know enough about the subject to lead experiments.
The Report, Success in Science, also revealed a worrying shortage of qualified teachers in many schools and Rebecca added: "The ASE is working with other STEM agencies and Science Learning Centres in an effort to reverse that trend.
"The Big Bang will certainly help to raise the profile of science and our hope is that it will stimulate visitors and make them realise what an exciting subject it can be."
The workshops are being aimed at both primary and secondary visitors and among the organisations featured will be the Institute of Chemical Engineers, The Earth Science Education Unit, The Science Museum and The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
Said Keith Clifford, Marketing Manager for Emap Connect, the organisers of The Education Show: "We are always keen to pick up on topical issues and believe that the Show offers an ideal platform for giving the profile of science a much-needed lift.
"Hopefully the programme of practical sessions across the three days will enthuse the visitors and genuinely help to put the subject back on the agenda for teachers."
As always, an integral part of The Education Show will be an extensive programme of CPD seminars, covering all subject areas at every level of education.
Many of these will feature high-profile specialists in their field like Mick Walters, Director of Curriculum at the QCA, Helen Moylett, Senior Director at The National Strategies, and Ged McClinton, Education Director at Partnerships in Schools.
Visitors with a special interest in early years will no doubt want to hear Helen Moylett on the Thursday when she leads a discussion on: "I Can Do It: boosting young children's achievements from birth to five.'
That seminar will explore how some new resources impact on young children's talking, social and emotional development, and how early mark making can be used to enhance practitioners' understanding of these areas.
Among the early years speakers already confirmed for Friday are Sarah Osborne, Reading Connects Manager for the National Literacy Trust, who will look at ways in which schools and early years settings can build whole-school reading communities which encourage children to develop a love of books.
The line-up of speakers who are specialists in the Special Needs field includes Jennifer Owen Adams, Education & Policy Director for the British Dyslexia Association, Ann Henderson, Senior National Advisor SEN for The National Strategies, and Caroline Hattersley, Head of Information, Advice & Advocacy for the National Autistic Society.
Whether you are a nursery manager, primary practitioner, secondary subject head or anyone involved in education, the Show is guaranteed to help educators to teach and manage learning more effectively.
Added Clifford: "We will be focusing on key themes such as the core curriculum subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and ICT, leadership and management, and curriculum change at all stages. But there truly is something for everyone at the UK's largest showcase of education resources."
The use of specialist zones - including Arts, Early Years, ICT & Publishing and Special Needs - makes it easier for visitors to negotiate their way around and discover the products that they really want to see.
Clifford said: "We are very aware that it can sometimes be difficult for visitors to cover the whole Show in one day because there are just so many products on display, and we try to make it as easy as possible for them to find what they are really looking for.
"The Education Show is renowned within the industry as the ideal place to introduce new products and many exhibitors deliberately time the launch of their latest resources to coincide with the Show.
"Teachers go to the NEC knowing that there's no better place to catch up with all the latest developments and by mixing in the extensive CPD programme, and some special feature areas, we believe we offer a free day out that is both entertaining and informative."
The Arts Zone, which is the creative heart of the Show, includes resources to assist with music and drama classes, as well as advice on implementing changes to expressive arts lessons.
More than 40 exhibitors will be situated in the lively Early Years Zone, where the Pre-School Learning Alliance will again be hosting the Information Point. Advice on resources best suited to the learners' needs will be available here and those looking for training will not be disappointed because free practical workshops will be taking place in this area.
The Special Needs Zone has become firmly established as a key area of the Show. nasen will again have a major presence in this area, offering help and advice at the Information Point and will also run a training programme specifically tailored for those with an interest in SEN.
Another of the fresh initiatives is that Every Child Matters will have its own dedicated area. This will include resources, services and ideas central to the agenda - like how to help pupils stay fit, advice on child safety and bullying and the latest outdoor play equipment, landscaping services and school excursions ideas.
Many of the 15,000 teachers who visit The Education Show will do so on an Inset Day and special Inset Planning Kits are available to assist with arrangements.
BESA, the co-organisers of the Show, also operate a Coach Scheme that involves a coach subsidy of up to £150 for groups of 10 or more who are travelling in excess of 50 miles.
The scheme has proved extremely popular over the years and many schools turn it into a bonding session for their entire staff. Teachers are given a budget in advance to spend on resources they need, and when the serious business is complete they stop off for a meal on the way home.
To pre-register for free admission to the Show on any of the days, visit www.education-show.com.
