Ruth Coleman is the Headteacher of Highfield Nursery School in Ipswich and the Strategic Lead for the East of England Early Years Stronger Practice Hub. A committed advocate for high quality early education, she is known for using evidence informed practice to strengthen outcomes for young children and the professionals who support them. Her work extends across the region, where she guides settings in developing confident, research engaged teams and sustainable models of improvement. Ruth is also the developer of the Highfield Resilience Tracker, a practical tool designed to help practitioners understand and nurture children’s emotional resilience. The tracker won the Let Teachers Shine Award in 2025.