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AGM 2008 - EYFS - Child's Play?

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Friday, 20 June 2008 - Novotel London West Hotel and Convention Centre

‘Government needs to provide sufficient resources to give our children room to play.’

Steve Alexander, CEO, Pre-school Learning Alliance

The Government with its partners has developed the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which will become the blueprint for early years provision in the future.

The EYFS and the Children’s Plan aim to lay a secure foundation for future learning and development of children.

The focus on involving parents more actively, the emphasis on individuality and creative learning through play supports the Alliance’s long-standing commitment to these approaches.

For the Government to succeed in bringing about the step-change we all wish to see in the quality and range of early years provision, a clear and sustained commitment to ensuring that the principles underpinning EYFS become embedded in the culture of early years provision will be important.

The Programme

Delegates attending the Alliance conference last year thought the mixture of passionate speakers, in-depth seminars and informative exhibition stands were the best to date. The 2008 conference, with the theme EYFS – Child’s Play?, promises to deliver even more with a timely exploration of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) led by experts in the sector.

Over a busy day, volunteers and delegates find out more about how EYFS will impact on their work, including the kind of support, resources and training available to help them deliver the new framework.

In the opening session, panelists include Sheila Scales, Director of Early Years at Department for Children, Schools and Families who gives the government’s perspective on the EYFS. This will be followed by lively contributions from Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood and Peter Dixon, author and poet.

In the afternoon sessions, a comprehensive programme of practical seminars ensures that delegates have even more opportunity to debate the issues and share good practice around the EYFS.

Your views matter

As always, there will be plenty of time to feed into the decision-making process during the charity’s Annual General Meeting after lunch. All members are encouraged to join in the meeting to have a say on the future direction and governance of the Alliance. Your involvement enables the organisation to continue to support and reflect the needs of volunteers. Your involvement and vote counts!

09.30 Registration, Coffee and Exhibition
10.15 Chair’s welcome: Judith Thompson, Chair of Trustees, Pre-school Learning Alliance
10.20 Sheila Scales, Director, Early Years, Extended Schools and Special Needs Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
10.35 Steve Alexander, Chief Executive, Pre-school Learning Alliance
10.50 Questions & Answers
11.05 Sue Palmer, educationalist and author, Toxic Childhood
11.20 Peter Dixon, educationalist, author and poet
11.35 Questions & Answers
11.50 Volunteer Awards Announcements
12.00 Special presentation
12.10 Lunch and exhibition
14.00 Annual General Meeting
15.00 Networking and exhibition
15.30 Seminar programme 1
16.15 Refreshments and exhibition
16.45 Seminar programme 2
17.30 Event closes

Exhibition

This year’s exhibition is bigger and better. New exhibitors include specialist business support services offering tailored packages especially for Alliance members, funding and partner agencies as well as ever popular training, book and toy supplier stands.

Delegates are encouraged to take time to visit the exhibition over breaks and lunch to enjoy its full benefits. Friendly professionals will be happy to offer free advice and can answer detailed questions about a broad range of products or services on display.

Seminars

A wide choice of in-depth seminars are available this year, and delegates can attend two sessions throughout the afternoon. The comprehensive programme will give delegates the chance to develop their understanding of the EYFS and update their work practice. Every delegate will receive a certificate of attendance.

Each seminar will run for 45 minutes and will be repeated twice on the day except for seminar 6 (programme 1) and 7 (programme 2) which will only run once. This means that delegates can attend two seminars. Places are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis.

  1. EYFS - sharing best practice

    Ruth Pimentel, National Director, Early Years at National Strategies, shows best practice and support available for settings to enable them to successfully meet the requirements of the EYFS framework.

  2. How Ofsted will regulate and inspect settings against the EYFS framework

    Dee Gasson, Assistant Divisional Manager, Children’s Policy and Frameworks at Ofsted will explain more about the support available to early years practitioners.

  3. Inspiring children’s confidence and learning with outdoor play.

    Diane Hall, Early Years Forest School Project Coordinator, explains why the Forest School Project is an exciting initiative which encourages children to interact with nature in child-led outdoor space.

  4. Promoting and sharing best practice for involving children in the EYFS

    Jeni Dunning, Area Manager, shares her expertise and experience with delegates in this session.

  5. Improving understanding of children’s behaviour

    Jan Coleman and Tim Neville of the Lewisham branch of the Alliance, deliver this session which will improve your understanding of children’s behaviour and enable you to create an environment which supports children and promotes their personal, social and emotional growth.

  6. EYFS and Baby & Toddlers - the adventure starts here

    The National Baby and Toddler Forum hosts this session, giving delegates the ability to promote and highlight the benefits of the EYFS for baby and toddler or stay and play groups.

  7. Should our pre-school become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation?

    Led by Jean-Paul da Costa, Partner at Thomas Eggar, this session explores the new CIO legal structure for charities, and will help you and your Committee decide whether this is the best legal structure for your group.

Evening Party

In the evening, all delegates are invited to return to the Novotel to join us for a relaxed evening of socialising.

Further information and booking form

Booking form

For further information contact:

Pre-school Learning Alliance
The Fitzpatrick Building
188 York Way
London
N7 9AD
T. 020 7697 2500
F. 020 7700 0319

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