Changing Attitudes 2008 - What Matters Now
Booking form
Contact details
Milton Keynes Pre-school Learning Alliance
2 Burners Lane
Kiln Farm
Milton Keynes
MK11 3HB
T. 01908 266 681
E. Inclusion Conference
Speakers Biographies
Day One
Sue Ellis
Sue Ellis has more than twenty years experience of teaching in both special and mainstream schools. Following a number of teaching and management posts in Buckinghamshire, Manchester and Derbyshire, Sue became a Registered Inspector with OFSTED and undertook primary and nursery school inspections over a period of four years. In 1999, Sue was appointed as Early Years SEN Adviser to Somerset LA and subsequently became the Senior Adviser for Foundation Stage there. Sue joined the National Strategy Foundation Stage team as a Regional Adviser (Inclusion) in the South West in April 2004 and, following the Rose Review, she joined the CLLD team and was appointed a Senior Director in Feb 07.
www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/
Alison John
Ally John is a qualified Youth and Community worker and she holds a certificate in Training from Goldsmith University London. Ally ran a community centre for ten years, working with children aged 3 – 16. Later she became Director of a National Voluntary organisation, promoting inclusion for young Disabled People into their local youth settings.
Ally is an experienced Consultant and Disability Equality Trainer in the field of play, early years and inclusion.
Ally has personal experience of living in what she calls a “disabling world”. She now works through Alison John & Associates as a consultant and trainer to bring an inclusive world ever nearer. She is an inspirational speaker and will have a significant impact on all those who attend.
Siobhan Fitzpatrick
Siobhan Fitzpatrick is Chief Executive of Early Years — the organisation for young children, and has been in post since 1989, having worked previously for the statutory sector within Health and Social Services.
Early Years is the largest group based early year’s organisation working in Northern Ireland, currently with 1,000 member groups including playgroups, parent & toddler groups, day care groups and after school provisions.
In her role as Chief Executive, Siobhan has responsibility for policy and strategic development, relationships with the Inter-departmental Group on Early Years, Childcare Partnerships, and Pre-school Education Advisory Groups. She also manages Cross Border relationships and International partnerships. Siobhan is the European representative on the World Forum Foundation for early years care and education.
Siobhan acts as Chief Executive of High/Scope Ireland and chairs a Cross Border Project Management group with the Border Counties Childcare Network which is implementing a Cross Border Early Years Management and Leadership programme, a Special Needs programme for early year’s staff and an IT strategy.
Siobhan is married with 3 grown up daughters.
Ros Blackburn
Ros Blackburn was diagnosed at one year old as severely autistic but with average intellectual ability. Now an adult, she is a highly respected international speaker on autism and her talks are entertaining as well as being extremely informative. Although she feels that many areas of her autistic condition have remained very severe, others, such as her severe language delay, have disappeared almost completely.
Haki Kapasi
Haki Kapasi is the Director of INSPIRE, a national training and development agency specialising in children's play and playwork. She is an experienced trainer and consultant in children's play, supporting organisations to develop play strategies and policies, carrying out service reviews, feasibility studies and evaluations. She also conducts action research projects. She is the author of Playing in Parallel, Asian Children Play, I Am We Are Activities pack and Power of Play: A guide for community cohesion through play. Haki is co-chair of the Joint National Committee on Training for Playwork and sits on the Children's Play Policy Forum.
Day two
Peter Limbrick
Peter has a science degree and has divided his career between teaching in special schools and managing voluntary agencies concerned with both adults and children with disabilities and special needs. He has a younger brother, now deceased, with cerebral palsy. Peter is author of 'An Integrated Pathway for Assessment and Support – for children with complex needs and their families' and 'Early Support for Children with Complex Needs: Team Around the Child and the Multi-agency Keyworker' and editor of 'Family-centred support for children with disabilities and special needs' (2007).
Gavin Cross
Gav is a Freelance Trainer and Consultant and Tom’s Dad. Gav started his career path as a Drama teacher in secondary schools but being Tom’s dad has been the defining career shaper, for the past 7 years.
Tom was a bright, sparkly, fun boy who was also ventilated 24 hours a day. This introduction to ‘serviceland’ for the Family Cross encouraged Gav to help the change process by coming in from outside of buildings, banging his head on the wall and shouting for change and fooling a Primary Care Trust into employing him.
As the project co-ordinator for Early Support, in a Pathfinder area, he enjoyed the challenge of working with, helping and nurturing practitioners towards a more family centred and partnership based approach to working.
Now, as a freelance trainer and consultant, he enjoys being an agitating grain of sand and one day looks forward to seeing a tiny contribution to many pearl shaped experiences, for the families of children with disabilities.
Chrissy Meleady MBE
Chrissy 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 Sheffield Children’s Centre (one of Britain’s Early Excellence Centres).
Chrissy has also been a Human Rights Commissioner and the Chief Executive of Sheffield Race Equality Council and the Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Race Discrimination Service.
Through these roles she has extensive experience of local, national and international early years, family support and human rights fields.
In recognition of her work with Children and Families in Britain, Chrissy was awarded the MBE in the 2000 New Years Honours List.
Adrienne Burgess
Adrienne Burgess is Research Manager for Fathers Direct (the UK's lead organization on fatherhood). She has written widely on fatherhood and on couple relationships in a wide ranger of publications from Cosmopolitan to Child Development. Her book Fatherhood Reclaimed: the making of the modern father (Vermilion, 1997) has helped set a new agenda on fatherhood in the UK, and has been published throughout the world. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (Vermilion, 2002) charts the dynamics of couple relationships, and has also been widely translator. Recent publications include Working with Fathers: a guide for everyone working with families (Fathers Direct, 2004) and 'Fathers and Public Services' in Daddy Dearest? Active fatherhood and public policy (Institute for Public Policy Research, 2005). Adrienne has just completed a major research review for Fathers Direct compiling the evidence base for fathers’ impact on their children, and the impact that public services can have when they work with fathers; and has co-authored the new Fathers Direct Toolkit for Father-Inclusive Practice. She carries out training and consultancy on fatherhood issues in the UK, the US, and Australia.
Richard Grant AKA Dreadlock Alien
A master of performance poetry, Dreadlock Alien, otherwise known as Richard Grant, was Birmingham’s Poet Laureate for 2005-06. He went to Warwick University, and became a writer after graduating. West Midlands-based performance poet Richard — known as dreadlockalien in poetry circles — hosted the B.B.C.Radio 4, U.K. Slam Poetry Championships. Richard describes himself as a poet on the frontline, changing attitudes to words, raising questions, leaving you to answer.
Seminars and their facilitators
Play and equality
Haki Kapasi - see speaker’s biographies
Living with Autism
Ros Blackburn - see speaker’s biographies
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
This seminar aims to briefly introduce you to the subject of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, covering how it occurs, signs of FASD in a child, common problems for professionals to look out for when supporting an under 5 with FASD and how you can support the family / carers as they look to the child starting school. This seminar will also outline some practical steps that can be taken to assist the child in the pre-school setting and early years.
Julia Brown is Executive Officer of The FASD Trust, which she started with her husband in response to the growing number of requests they were receiving to know more about Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The Trust aims to raise awareness of the condition, in order to not only prevent it, but to increase the support for and understanding of those with FASD, their families and carers.
Julia lectures and speaks publicly about FASD, as well as commenting to the media on the issue.
Prior to running the Trust, Julia held a variety of posts in business in London, latterly in HR and Finance. She is married to Simon and they have an adopted daughter who has FAS.
Keeping the energy going
We can all rush around trying to please everyone, often failing to look after ourselves. If we ignore our own needs – we can become frustrated and tired and overworked. Any spare energy one has distorts into tension or drains away altogether. This introductory session will help you to focus on key strategies to ensure that you do not allow yourself to lose too much vitality or vibrancy. You will be encouraged to explore your own creativity, spontaneity and self knowledge, to enable you to create balance, energy and positivity in your professional and personal life.
Sarah Bentley
Sarah is a senior associate partner at Jenny Mosley Consultancies; she promotes the Quality Circle Time model across the country to schools, early years partnerships and LA’s.
Since joining the consultancy, she has travelled extensively in the UK and has had the opportunity of representing the consultancy internationally in Chile, Thailand, Egypt as well as Spain and Ireland. Sarah says ‘It gives me a huge amount of pleasure to know that so many adults and children are now benefitting from the Quality Circle Time model.
Sarah was a teacher for seven years
Dance Write
Dance Write is a music and movement programme that was originally devised to enhance the development of pre-writing and writing skills in children.
The programme aims to support children in developing their letter shapes in a creative, enjoyable and playful way, developing the skills that will support the development of hand writing.
The programme’s originator is Ragnhild A. Oussoren, from the Netherlands, who created Write Dance in the 1990s, and the programme is now widely used across the world.
Dazu has adapted the programme to put equal emphasis on the music and movement element of the sessions, recognising that children’s access to physical activity also needs to be encouraged and supported. This is why Dazu adapted the name of the programme, and called it Dance Write.
NB: Please wear comfortable clothing for this session
Naomi Claire has been working as a Drama/Dance sessional worker for Dazu since 2003. In addition to working at Dazu's play schemes, Street Theatre and Theatre Arts workshops; Naomi has also worked on Dazu's Dance Write programme.
The Power of Puppets
This practical seminar demonstrates how to use puppets with confidence. Many settings have a selection of puppets that are rarely used because most of us feel self conscious with a puppet on our hand. The seminar will show you simple techniques and methods of using puppets of all shapes and sizes. The participants will be given access to lots of different types of puppets and have the opportunity to explore their uses. The session is designed to be both fun and informative with lots of ideas and suggestions for the complete beginner and those with experience.
Peter Lockey B.Ed Hons obtained his teaching degree at Wall Hall College, Aldenham in the late 1970’s. He went on to teach Ceramics, Sculpture and Drama for a number of years in schools in and around Hertfordshire and North London. Peter and his wife Sue now run two puppet companies providing resources for teachers and puppet products for the retail sector.
Making music with under 5s with physical or sensory disabilities
This seminar looks at how simple musical games and activities can be adapted to include children with physical or sensory disability, allowing them to enjoy music sessions alongside their able bodied peers while also promoting their development. It will be a practical session using simple songs and small percussion instruments, and no previous musical experience is required.
Making music with under 5s with social or communication difficulties
Pre-school professionals are increasingly facing the challenge of working with children showing social or communication difficulties, whether diagnosed (Autistic Spectrum Disorder, ADHD etc.) or not. This seminar looks at how musical games and activities can be used to foster communication and socialization with young children, enabling them to integrate with their peers. It will be a practical session using simple songs and small percussion instruments, and no previous musical experience is required.
Jasenka Horvat is a Senior Music Therapist and Clinical Tutor at the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre in London. Over the past 10 years she has been working as a music therapist with a variety of client groups, predominantly children, and has developed a special clinical and research interest in exploring the field of cultural, social and family contexts within the music therapy process. She regularly gives music therapy related lectures and workshops as well as presenting her work, both nationally and internationally.
Switched Play
Whilst changes to the environment and an informed choice of equipment and resources can remove barriers to play, electric or battery powered toys are particularly useful for children with limited movement and/or developmental delay. This highly practical seminar will offer the opportunity to play with a wide range of toys including battery powered, and look at how ordinary toys can be easily adapted with an external switch.
Pat Atkinson. When Pat’s 3 children were young in the 60s and 70s she was involved in the playgroup movement and learned about community involvement and play. Then Pat was employed as a toy librarian at a hospital for children and adults with learning disabilities for 7 years before returning to her original profession of physiotherapy.
After several years at a special school in Hartlepool she worked in the community in north Durham as part of a team specialising in work with children with coordination disorders until retirement in 2005
Pat has been involved with National Association of Toy and Leisure Libraries for many years. She has a particular interest in play, including that of children and adults with special needs, in the creative use of simple technology, and in sharing ideas worldwide. Pat is a trainer for NATLL and secretary of the International Toy Library Association.
Dreadlockalien – Diversity Awareness
Bring a pen, words and a sense of humour to this interactive seminar. You will be encouraged to consider issues around diversity awareness through the medium of slam poetry. Richard will show you how he engages young people to raise awareness, helping them to express themselves.
Richard Grant - see speaker’s biographies
Developing father-inclusive practice in early years services
The aim of the seminar is for participants to develop greater confidence, knowledge and skills to work effectively with fathers
Participants will:
- reflect on the personal and cultural issues which shape our perceptions of men/fathers
- learn about good practice in engaging with and supporting fathers
- think about how to create a whole team approach
- plan needs-led approaches to engaging with and supporting fathers
Adrienne Burgess - see speaker’s biographies
Early Support – An introduction, overview and an update
The Early Support Programme is the central government mechanism for achieving better co-ordinated, family-focused services for young disabled children and their families across England. This seminar will give you the chance to find out about Early Support; its goals, the materials available and the achievements so far.
Gav Cross has been a project coordinator for Early Support in a Pathfinder area and a parent who has used Early Supports materials and approaches for his own family’s needs.
Currently he is an accredited trainer for Early Support.
Equality in Early Years
Exploring perceived prejudices surrounding early years practitioners.
Chrissy Meleady - see speaker’s biographies
Playscope
This hands-on workshop gives a taste of a fun new approach for working with children aged 6 months to 6 years. Participants will have the chance to play together exploring sand, water, and other stimulating media, problem solving, questioning and discovering. The highly sensory session will show inspiring techniques for delivering the new Early Years Foundation Stage framework. Participants can also reflect upon how they can use this resource as a tool for satisfying learning objectives in a fun and child-led way.
Sue Gascoyne (BA, MA, MRTPI) is Managing Director of Play to Z, and has led a consultancy providing facilitation, mentoring and training for the last nine years. Since establishing Play to Z in 2006, Sue has run workshops to help practitioners introduce learning through play and written a research paper on using persona dolls to identify children's views.
A mother of two, (now aged 18 months and 4½ years), many of the Playscope activities are based on observations of her own children at play
Facilitated Discussion Groups
Offer you the chance to hear and talk about initiatives and strategies.
Diversity awareness
Your opportunity to talk about issues around Diversity Awareness in Early Years. Share examples of good practice; take home ideas to further develop good practice in your own environment.
Nicola Gibson - Inclusion Manager, Pre-school Learning Alliance
After the birth of her disabled son in the early 1980s Nicky became interested in the work of the pre-school her son attended. Nicky joined the group as a volunteer and was later appointed the groups ‘special needs co-ordinator’. Over the next 15 years Nicky held a variety of roles such as managing specialist play provision, tutoring courses on special educational needs, working as a disability assessment officer for social services and working freelance for local government to improve early years practice.
In 2002 Nicky joined the Pre-school Learning Alliance as the lead SEN officer and is now their National Inclusion Manager. Nicky is passionate about removing inequalities within the early years sector not only for disabled children but for any child or parent marginalised or excluded from early years provision.
Working with families
Listen to other professionals experiences and share examples of successful partnership working.
Val Railton - Inclusion Co-ordinator, Pre-school Learning Alliance
Val trained as a registered nurse for people with learning disabilities, became a mum of four children (her oldest son has profound and multiple needs) fostered babies with special needs, managed a pre-school and then joined the Wakefield Branch Special Needs Team as a support worker. Her aim is to improve life for every family with a child with disabilities and believes we can achieve this by understanding the needs of parents.
Multi-agency working
Delegates will consider how professionals can work together to provide effective support to children who need multiple interventions and their families. This will include the Team Around the Child approach for those with the most complex needs and will touch on the transdisciplinary model in which the numbers of professionals who do 'hands on' with particular pre-school children can be reduced to better meet child and family needs.
Peter Limbrick - see speaker’s biographies
Recreational activities for residential delegates
To book a place on these workshops, please register at the Alliance Help Desk once you are at the Conference.
Please be aware that due to the nature of these sessions numbers are limited.
Day one
Umbanda Drumming Workshop
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.
Day two
Tai Chi — Master Chak Yan Lee
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
Booking Form and Procedure
- Please complete a separate booking form for each delegate, photocopies will be accepted. Booking forms can be downloaded from this website.
- Please complete all sections of the booking form before sending it to us.
- To claim the Members rate you will need to include your Pre-school Learning Alliance membership number on the booking form.
- If you would like to obtain membership of the Pre-school Learning Alliance and qualify for the lower delegate rate then go to www.pre-school.org.uk/membership
- Please include your email address, if you have one, as this is the quickest and most reliable way for us to send your acknowledgement and confirmation, and to raise any queries.
Seminars
- When choosing your seminars, please enter the relevant code in the box.
- Please choose your seminars carefully as it is very unlikely that seminars can be changed once you have arrived at the Conference.
- All seminars have a maximum number of places; these are allocated on a first come first served basis.
- Seminars cannot be booked on the day of the Conference.
Payment
- Please note that an administration charge of 5% is payable on all invoices.
- Please ensure that you obtain a purchase order number (if required) and include it on the booking form before you send it to us.
Acknowledgement and Confirmation
- Once your completed booking form has been received your place will be reserved and you will be sent an acknowledgment.
- When we have received payment we will send your confirmation. Before contacting us regarding confirmation please check that payment has been sent.
Group Bookings
- If you are part of a group of more than five delegates then please pass any queries on, via your Group leader/contact.
- If you do need to contact us directly please remember to inform us which group you are with.
Night Prior Delegates
Representatives of the Milton Keynes Inclusion Team will be at the venue the night prior to the conference and will be meeting in the bar at 6.30pm. You are welcome to join them there, or in the restaurant at 7pm.
Venue
Kents Hill Park
Training and Conference Centre
Timbold Drive
Milton Keynes
Bucks
MK7 6TT
Accommodation
Please book accommodation on the Conference booking form.
Kents Hill Park is a modern; purpose built training and conference centre, with on site accommodation. All bedrooms are en-suite and have remote control TV, hairdryer, hospitality tray, direct dial telephone and study area. Specifically modified rooms are available for guests with additional needs. Large button phones and text phones are available on request.
Leisure facilities
Residential delegates may like to make use of the leisure facilities which include;
- Fully equipped gymnasium
- Large swimming pool
- Whirlpool, sauna, steam room and solarium
Restaurant
The recently refurbished restaurant seats up to 300 people, serving a variety of international cuisine and catering for special dietary requirements.
Non-smoking Policy
Due to the new smoking legislation which became law on the 1st of July 2007, Kents Hill Park now operates a no smoking policy within all of the buildings, and at its entrances in order to comply with the law.
For the benefit of our customers who do smoke, a shelter has been provided within Swallow House courtyard.
Location
By Car – Parking is free at the venue
- Kents Hill Park is located on the eastern side of Milton Keynes
- Easy access from either junction 13 or 14 of the M1 motorway
- Exit M1 at junction 13 northbound or junction 14 southbound
By Rail
- Central Milton Keynes railway station is approximately four miles away
- Regular, direct service between London Euston and Birmingham New Street
- Taxis always available outside the station
To download maps and directions go to www.accenturehotelandconferencing.com
Exhibition
The following companies will be attending
- Kaleidoscope Colour Therapy
- Story Chest Ltd
- Eduzone
- Fine Solutions
- Safe Spaces
- Tuska Toys
- Puppets by Post
- Acorn Educational
- Doodle World
- Handmade Places
- Fathers Direct
- Play to Z
- Creative Thinking
- Sense Toys
- Childs Play Int Ltd
- QED Publications Ltd
- Jenny Mosley Consultancies