The Alliance's 2007 Conference, Exhibition and AGM is being held on Friday 29 June 2007 at the Novotel London West Hotel and Convention Centre, London W6 8DR.

Working in partnership with parents

The Alliance’s annual conference provides an exciting opportunity for you to hear the latest policy developments in the early years sector, as well as the chance to air your views and share expertise. This year the event focuses on working in partnership with parents.

The Alliance has a long history of recognising parents as their children’s most important educators, and has actively involved parents in its work for many years.

Supporting parents is currently high on the Government’s agenda too. This focus has seen the development of programmes and initiatives such as the Early Learning Partnerships, the Academy of Parenting Practitioners and the requirement for local authorities to draw up a ‘parenting support strategy’.

In early years settings and services, the Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme aims to ensure that support for parents becomes routine through strategies such as making information and advice available at early years settings and the development of a consistent set of services for parents at children’s centres and extended schools.

The Alliance’s commitment to ensuring parent involvement is placed at the heart of our work gives us a wealth of experience and knowledge to share with Government.

You can learn more about future policy developments, share your views and lend your voice and expertise to supporting the parent agenda by joining us at this year’s annual event. You will also have a chance to influence the work of the Alliance at the AGM. A full seminar programme in the afternoon will give an opportunity to develop your professional skills at a practical level.

Programme

Seminars

1. Baby and toddler groups — is your house in order?

   A fun, practical forum which gives delegates an opportunity to share Baby and Toddler group good practice. Acknowledging the important role of parents and carers, this session is ideal for anyone thinking of starting or running a baby and toddler group, play and stay or under 3’s session.

   The session is delivered by the Pre-school Learning Alliance National Baby and Toddler Forum.

2. Involving parents, growing volunteers

   This session will focus on offering delegates advice, information and support on ways they can involve, attract and retain volunteers. Positive case studies will demonstrate how strong initial partnerships with parents often form the basis for long-term, committed support as volunteers in the future.

   Lynda Sandham, Regional Director of Eastern region, facilitates the session with support from Alliance practitioners able to practically demonstrate how they have successfully grown their own local volunteer networks.

3. Early Learning Partnerships — supporting practitioners

   An interactive workshop delivered by representatives from PEEP, ICAN and PEAL with supporting displays. Delegates can choose to hear from PEEP about their methodology for working with parents, listen to ICAN who will be discussing language and literacy or discuss with PEAL how they can support early years practitioners to encourage parents as the child's main educator.

   The Alliance and NCMA will introduce the session by covering the project’s overall aims and objectives including working together in partnership. Michael Freeston and Pat Styles host the session.

4. Helping parents support children with complex needs

   Serious problems affect many parents and this can have a direct impact on not only the lives of their children but services offered by early years practitioners.

   Children with complex needs also challenge practitioners and impact on service delivery. Practitioners are invited to share experiences, discuss challenges and explain how the often very different needs of children and parents can be successfully met in early years settings.

   Helen Norris, Manager of the acclaimed Phoenix Centre for Disabled Children in Bromley will facilitate the session with support from professional colleagues. Nicky Young hosts the session on behalf of the Alliance.

5. Compact — making partnerships work

   John Stoker, Commissioner for Compact and Paul Barasi at Compact Voice deliver a joint session about their roles and how their work supports and benefits early years professionals and practitioners locally.

   The session explores important areas such as local commissioning arrangements (guidance and support), good practice and successful partnership-working.

Exhibition

A lively, interactive exhibition will complement the main programme. There will be plenty of opportunities for delegates to visit stands and speak with friendly professionals about a range of specialist products and services during the regular conference breaks.

Evening Party

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