Scottish Pre-school Play Association’s

National Conference

Organised in partnership with Glasgow City Council and TTS

Policy and Practice Now What’s Happening in Scotland?

The Hilton Glasgow City Centre • Saturday 4 October 2014

EARLY YEARS

Care Accolade Award Winner 2014

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Join us at SPPA’s National Conference and Hear From Leading UK Early Years Experts

Transforming the Early Years - the Art of the PossibleJune O’Sullivan MBE

Young Children and PrisonsJean Carwood-Edwards

One Glasgow - Prevention and Early Intervention WorkHeather Douglas

Are we trying to be too Professional?John Carnochan OBE

Early Years Policy and Practice in ScotlandAileen Campbell MSPThe Minister for Children and Young People will update the conference on the many policy and practice developments on the early years landscape in Scotland. This is a valuable opportunity to hear about what is happening, what is planned and to have a look at the various measures being taken towards trying to achieve the common goal of making Scotland the best place to grow up.

What are the critical elements needed in early years settings to ensure the highest quality so that children from all families are supported but especially disadvantaged families? June will focus on narrowing the gap and issues of supporting disadvantaged children. She will explain how the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) works to get the best experience to achieve the best possible outcomes and why she thinks it could work in Scotland.

An opportunity to hear about the One Glasgow Children 0-8 early intervention approach which aims to reduce inequalities in childhood development and family well-being by focusing on families who are ‘just coping’. Working collaboratively to develop a family learning approach, the aim of One Glasgow is to redesign services through joint, streamlined working, reduced duplication, and redirection of resources to deliver improved outcomes. Third sector partners are fully embedded in developments and as well as directly supporting families, they are working alongside education, health and social work to drive improvement.

What happens to the 27,000 children who lose a parent to prison? How does imprisonment affect their chances of achieving positive outcomes? With a focus on prevention, early intervention and learning through play, SPPA works in partnership with the prison service, with prisoners, their partners and young children (0-5 years). Stronger attachments achieve the best outcomes for children.

We must change our culture and attitude towards our children. We have to think less about process and procedure and encourage more care and empathy. We seem to be in a place where society thinks that it’s everyone else’s responsibility to care - the GP, the health worker, the social worker, the police, the teacher. The education, nurturing and protection of our children, particularly our most vulnerable children, is everyone’s responsibility the family - the neighbours, even the stranger on the street. We have to think more as humans and not just as professionals.

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Study Sessions / Workshops

A. Computers and Technology in Early Years Settings John Mcgill

John will discuss and demonstrate technology use in an early years environment. Various pieces of equipment and software will be presented including the Interactive Whiteboard, iPad and a mix of innovative software packages that are readily available. This session plans to demystify the use of technologies in early years and to show that you don’t have to be a computer whiz to integrate digital learning into your day to day curriculum and match the experience to Curriculum for Excellence.

B. Before They Start School - Start Swimming Fiona Paterson

Scottish Swimming understands the importance of the early years and that it is during these years when the greatest impact can be made. For this reason a specific programme for the pre-school years called ‘Start to Swim’ has been developed, consisting of a specific teaching qualification and parent education. Swimming is a life skill that’s not only fun and health enhancing it also increases water safety awareness. It is helps with the development of physical, motor, social, emotional, language and cognitive skills. Research conducted in Australia suggests that children who learn to swim at a young age are reaching many developmental milestones earlier than the norm.

C. Improving Practice - Understanding the Early Years Collaborative Maureen McAteer and Kathleen Johnston

The Early Years Collaborative is an outcome focused, multi-agency quality improvement programme. The session will set out the national policy context which frames the EYC and give delegates time to learn about this approach to sustainable improvement across the early years landscape. A local Community Planning Partnership (CPP) will share the highs and lows of their improvement journey and participants will have the opportunity to explore the challenges and benefits of engaging in change in their own context.

D. The Children and Young People Act - Understanding the Implications for Early Years Carol Kirk

The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 contains many proposals around how the Scottish Government can achieve its goals for children’s rights and services. The Act is concerned with supporting the rights of all children and young people in Scotland and examines how services that look after children and young people such as health, education and social care, can be made to work better. It has implications for everyone who works with children and those concerned with ensuring they have the best start in life.

E. Getting Off to a Healthy Start - Encouraging Children to Have Good Eating Habits Lesley Hetherington

This session will explore the role practitioners have in developing positive food habits by championing the importance of a well-balanced food intake with parents and children. Lesley will cover what a healthy balanced diet for a 2-3 year old is and offer guidance on optimum snacks. The Make and Taste resource - making food fun will be looked at, particularly with regard to using it when working in partnership with parents.

• Hear and meet key experts and take home practical messages

• Refresh and enhance your knowledge of what is happening in the sector

• Network with others• Take part in discussion and debate• Pick up educational resources and learn about new products

and services

Some Great Reasons to Attend this Year’s Event!

Anyone who works within the early years sector including; local and national government officers, early years specialists, managers and practitioners, management committee members, Sure Start coordinators, health professionals, education and social services staff, nursery and childcare providers, childcare students and Community Planning Partnerships. Whether you are a decision maker or delivering change on the ground, this conference will be of benefit to you.

Continuing Professional Development Attendance at the conference will count towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Exhibition A wide range of early years related stalls will be available for you to look around and purchase from. Exhibits will include play equipment, crafts, toys, books and information displays.

Registration

To register for this conference, please complete the booking form, detach and return no later than Thursday 2 October 2014. It is advisable to return the form as soon as possible as our numbers are restricted.

What Delegates Said About Last Year’s Conference

Who Should Attend?

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“Very valuable as a resource/learning opportunity.”“Really good selection of interesting and inspiring keynotes.”“Tight conference. Well managed and staged.”“Very good value for money compared to other events.”“Very enjoyable, worthwhile conference.”

EARLY YEARSConference Programme

9.00 Registration, Exhibition and Refreshments

10.00 Opening remarks from SPPA Chairperson, Barbara Dale. Welcome from Jean Carwood-Edwards, SPPA Chief Executive

10.10 Dunblane Centre Children’s Choir – Oliver!

10.20 Early Years Policy and Practice in Scotland Minister for Children and Young People, Aileen Campbell MSP. Followed by questions.

10.50 SPPA AGM

11.20 Transforming the Early Years: the Art of the Possible June O’Sullivan MBE, Chief Executive, London Early Years Foundation

11.50 Refreshments and Exhibition

12.10 One Glasgow – Prevention and Early Intervention Work Heather Douglas, Early Years Manager, Glasgow City Council 12.40 Young Children and Prisons Jean Carwood-Edwards, SPPA Chief Executive

1.10 Delegates round table discussion and questions to the panel

1.30 Lunch and Exhibition

2.15 Study Sessions/Workshops

A. Computers and Technology in Early Years Settings. John McGill, Director, ComputerXplorers South West Scotland

B. Before they Start School - Start Swimming. Fiona Paterson, Participation Development Officer, Scottish Swimming C. Improving Practice – Understanding the Early Years Collaborative. Maureen McAteer, Practice Development Team, Children & Families Directorate, Scottish Government and Kathleen Johnston, Acting QIO Early Years, Argyll & Bute Council

D. The Children and Young People Act - Understanding the Implications for Early Years. Carol Kirk, Educational Consultant

E. Getting Off to a Healthy Start – Encouraging Children to Have Good Eating Habits. Lesley Hetherington, Community Dietician, NHS Forth Valley

3.00 Are we trying to be too Professional? John Carnochan OBE, Independent Consultant

3.30 Conference Close and Refreshments

Chair: Tam Baillie, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children

and Young People

Scottish Pre-school Play AssociationSPPA Centre, 21-23 Granville Street, Glasgow G3 7EETel: 0141 221 4148 Fax: 0141 221 6043Email: info@sppa.org.uk

www.sppa.org.uk

Scottish Pre-school Play Association is a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland Registration No 86932 and a Scottish Charity Registration No SC003725

Care Accolade Award Winner 2014