Elaine Hindal joined The Children’s Society in April 2009, as Director, Campaign for Childhood and a member of the Society Management Team. Elaine has extensive communications and strategic marketing experience in major blue chip companies. Elaine has recently achieved an MSc with Distinction in Occupational Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire and is Chair of a local children’s charity where she lives.

www.childrenssociety.org.uk

Christine Gilbert was appointed Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector (Schools) on 1 October 2006 and became Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills on 1 April 2007 with the creation of the new Ofsted. Prior to this, she was Chief Executive of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Her earlier career was in teaching, where she spent 18 years in comprehensive schools.

www.ofsted.gov.uk

Richard Bowlby worked as a scientific photographer in various medical research institutions where he produced visual aids for communicating research findings. He retired in 1999 to promote a wider understanding of attachment theory to healthcare practitioners and interested lay-people. His present concern is the psychological impact on babies and toddlers when they are being cared-for each day by unfamiliar people in unfamiliar settings and fail to develop a long term secondary attachment to at least one of the carers.

Chrissy Meleady is the Chief Executive of Early Years Equality, which is the national custodian of Racial Equality in the Early Years Sector. Chrissy's previous roles have included being the Head of Centre of the award winning and innovative Sheffield Children’s Centre. She has also been the Chief Executive of Sheffield Racial Equality Council

and the Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Race Equality Service as well as a Human Rights Commissioner.

www.earlyyearsequality.org

Sue Ellis was appointed National Director, Early Years, National Strategies in February 2009 after spending more than thirty years teaching in nursery, primary and special schools as well as inspection and advisory roles. Sue played an active role in both the Communication, Language and Literacy Development and Early Years programmes and took lead responsibility for developing and implementing the Every Child a Talker programme prior to her current appointment.

www.nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/earlyyears

Jenni Murray is one of radio and television’s most respected broadcasters. Jenni has wide-ranging expertise in politics, business and the arts, her interviews with the powerful are described as “probing”, steely” and “no-nonsense”.

Joan Pennycook has many years of experience working in childcare and social welfare settings at both regional and national level. In 1998 Joan established her own best practice training and research consultancy, and has since trained as a life coach/mentor and is a qualified NLP practitioner.

Having faced oppression and discrimination throughout her life, Laura Chapman has a uniquely personal understanding of the issues surrounding inclusion. Laura is an experienced educationalist, researcher, author and trainer; she draws not only on her extensive knowledge, but also on real life to give refreshing and remarkable insights into the entire equality arena.

www.equalitytraining.co.uk

This seminar will give participants the opportunity to reflect on the impact of engaging fathers on children, women and services. The session will include a presentation of the evidence base and discussion of recent policy guidance as well as an opportunity to learn about good practice.

Nimmi Johal

Nimmi Johal has 15 years of grass roots integrated community provision experience. From 2003 -2009 she supported inclusive practice as a Development Worker for the PLA, which has enabled her to “champion” father engagement in pre-school provision in Leicester. In her current post Nimmi is a Regional Development Officer with the Fatherhood Institute.

www.fatherhoodinstitute.org

This seminar will explore key issues in how young children can develop social skills and learn how to resolve some ordinary problems arising in play and friendships. We will explore:

• The social dilemmas that matter from a children’s perspective and the importance of realistic expectations from adults about behaviour.
• Ways to encourage social skills and help children to take the pro-social option sometimes.
• How early years practitioners need to set a good example – be a role model for children to imitate.
• Adults have to understand and use skills of problem solving, in order to help children on this learning journey.

Jennie Lindon

Jennie Lindon is a child psychologist and Early Years consultant, running her own business. She has three decades of experience working with early years, educational and play services for children and families. An established author, Jennie has over thirty books published, including Guiding the behaviour of children and young people (Hodder Education)

Effective Behaviour Strategies for the Early Years will look at positive approaches to changing behaviours that are preventing a child from having successful opportunities and interaction. We will look at the needs that drive behaviours and possible alternative skills to teach the child.

Sally Slater

Sally is an educational professional who was formerly head teacher of a residential special school. She is experienced in management, teaching and training within most areas of special educational needs in mainstream and special school settings and adult residential care. Her specialisms include autism, challenging behaviour, severe learning difficulties and dyspraxia.

www.concept-training.co.uk

A fun, interactive seminar aimed at total beginners that will introduce practitioners to an easy way to learn sign language. The seminar will be delivered in a relaxed atmosphere using signed songs and nursery rhymes, with signs sourced directly from British Sign Language. The signs learnt on this seminar can be used with all children, whether hearing or deaf, to help improve their communication skills.

Garry Slack

Garry is a fully qualified communication support worker for deaf people and works as a trainer for various Local Authorities, providing sign language and non verbal communication training.

Garry is a sign language trainer, presenter, author and creator of the critically acclaimed children’s sign language book series, ‘Learn to sign with Olli’. Garry was the sign language consultant for the children’s television series ‘Make Shake & Jake’.

www.signwitholli.com

“Wiggle and whoosh” or Developmental Movement includes lots of fun ideas, games and songs to promote children’s early physical, communication and social skills. It is an excellent tool for promoting relationships and children’s general well-being. Developmental movement can be adapted to use for whole groups and classes as well as for individual children. Wiggle and whoosh can be particularly helpful for children who have additional needs, including autistic spectrum disorders and emotional and behavioural difficulties.

NB It is advisable to wear comfortable clothing for this fun interactive session

Anne Kibuuka

Anne Kibuuka has had 30 years teaching experience, for the past 19 years she has focussed on Early Years and Inclusion. Anne was Deputy Head and Nursery “assessment class” teacher for ten years, and Head of an Early Years Inclusion Service for five years. She is currently the Head teacher Kay Rowe Nursery School and Children's Centre in Inner London.

Christina White

Christina White has had twenty years experience, working in mainstream, integrated and special schools also in early intervention. She is currently an Area SENCo team leader for Milton Keynes council.

This is an enjoyable practical session which will focus on the sheer joy of music making and will build on everyone's musical skills. The focus will be on using musical activities that are inclusive and creative, working with narrative and music to support key skills, how colour-coded instruments open up a world of musical creativity to everyone, and some songs and games.

People who attend this interactive workshop leave with:

• New songs, rhymes and games to use with all their children
• Skills and ideas for inclusive narrative and music activities
• Lots of ideas for using colour-coded instruments including song writing
• A greater sense of confidence in their own music making abilities
• Lots of ideas for using instruments to enrich their sessions
• A greater understanding of how music can be used to help children’s development

Eric Klein

With 30 years experience as a practicing musician, composer, conductor, teacher and consultant, Eric has worked with people with special needs ranging from young children to the elderly. He now delivers workshops to a variety of organisations, focusing on issues such as communication, team building and leadership using performing arts.

www.concept-training.co.uk

A sound/play session which encourages listening, playing and social contact, incorporating some Brain Gym and sensory integration movements.

Craig Trafford

Craig Trafford is a qualified Educational Kinesiology Consultant and Stress Management Trainer. Craig specialises as a creative educator / musician in Children’s centres, nurseries, play-groups, primary and secondary schools and SEN, also performing all over the UK at festivals and events. He is the MD of Early Ears Music and is otherwise known as The Fun Music Man. Since 1993 Craig has been working with educational and therapeutic teams to develop a range of music and sound-play based resources and workshops. Learning through listening, playing and moving are at the core of his programmes which have contributed to the development of thousands of children, teachers and families over the years.

Chrissy Meleady MBE

Chrissy Meleady is the Chief Executive of Early Years Equality, which is the national custodian of Racial Equality in the Early Years Sector. Chrissy's previous roles have included being the Head of Centre of the award winning and innovative Sheffield Children’s Centre. She has also been the Chief Executive of Sheffield Racial Equality Council

and the Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Race Equality Service as well as a Human Rights Commissioner.

Andrea has recently taken on the coordination of the Two Year Old Project in Bradford, including work to ensure that parents' role in their children's learning is recognised, valued and supported. The project is building on work undertaken in the national pilot, starting in 2006, to provide free early education places for disadvantaged two year olds.

This seminar will look at some case studies, share information about the additional places funded by the Local Authority in pre-schools and talk about some of the successes and challenges faced in the first three years of the funding.

Andrea Layzell

Andrea started her career in children's services as a registered childminder, moving on to work as Childminding Support and Development Officer in Kirklees. She continued to work with childminders at a regional level with the National Childminding Association before working as a trainer and consultant, independently and with organisations including NCB and Pen Green Research and Development Centre.

Andrea has been part of the Workforce Development Team in Bradford since 2006, also working on the Parents as Partners in Early Learning Project (PPEL) in the authority.

Explore how laughter can reduce stress, help you take control of your mood, and make positive connections between people.

Jo Eadie

Jo works with schools, businesses, and community groups, exploring the importance of laughter for health and wellbeing. He is a member of the UK Laughter Network, an alliance of trainers who run workshops on the educational and therapeutic benefits of laughter.

www.joeadie.co.uk

When working with toddlers and young children our focus should be on creating opportunities that are appropriate to their abilities; that are interesting and stimulating and provided through an environment that encourages and enhances their natural curiosity.

During this session delegates will:

• Consider their role in providing a bright, colourful space for their toddlers to investigate and explore.
• Discuss a range of ideas for extending the play and thinking of the two year old.
• Explore a range of sensory learning experiences which support engagement and learning for very young children.
• Consider the involvement and development of skills and knowledge through an active engaging environment.

The emphasis of the session will be on a partnership for learning between the adult, child and enriched environment.

Alice Sharp

Alice Sharp’s practice began in Brighton when she found herself running a nursery and becoming involved in opening a number of new branches around Hove and Shoreham. On moving back to Glasgow she became involved in working with children with additional needs and then moved on to Lecture in Early years at a college in Glasgow.

Alice is the MD of Experiential Play a training company who specialise in working with staff, parents and local authorities concerned with the provision of play and stimulation for children aged birth to eight years.

This seminar will look at exciting ways to support young children’s exploration and active learning using a wide range of open ended materials. It will illustrate the types of environment we need to create to encourage all children to discover their own creative and critical thinking skills and review the role of the adult as the enabler and facilitator of young children’s learning. Delegates will have the opportunity to explore the potential of a range of resources designed to engage children’s interest.

Linda Thornton

Linda Thornton has over thirty years experience in education as a teacher, headteacher, adviser and lead officer for Early Years. She is passionate about developing children’s thinking and learning, valuing creative learning environments and encouraging educators to think about the ‘why’ as well as the ‘how’ in their approach to teaching. Linda is a director of alc associates and currently provides consultancy and training for local authorities across the UK.

Pat Brunton

Pat Brunton’s background as a research scientist has led to her interest in the idea of babies and young children as researchers, and to recognising the value of involving families in their children’s learning. She has extensive experience of the Early Years field and provides training for a wide variety of audiences including Early Years professionals, teachers and children’s centre professionals.

www.alcassociates.co.uk

Umbanda bring a wide-range of drums and percussion instruments from around the world in order to enable delegates to make vibrant and exciting music, regardless of age, ability or previous experience. This practical workshop will give you the opportunity to experience being in a fully functioning and vibrant instant band. Life is about making music, and making music with other people has far reaching benefits.
www.umbanda.co.uk

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese form of co-ordinated body movements focusing on the cultivation of internal energy 'chi'. Its aim is to harmonise the mind, body and spirit, promoting both mental and physical well-being through softness and relaxation. Unlike most forms of exercise, tai-chi does not rely on strength, force and speed, making it ideal for young and old alike.

NB Please wear loose comfortable clothing for this session

To book a place on the Tai Chi workshop, please register at the Alliance Help Desk, in the Exhibition room. Please be aware that due to the nature of this session numbers are limited.