Early Years Conference 2023

Early Years Training and Pedagogy

Saturday 14 October 2023 • Pen Green Research Base, Corby

This year we’ll be exploring how we can enhance our pedagogy to engage children, maximise their learning, build connection and impact their physical and emotional development.

Places at this year's conference are offered FREE of charge courtesy of Pen Green who head the East Midlands Stronger Practice Hub. It's set to be an informative and inspiring day invaluable for anyone working in a childcare setting.

Enhance your CPD

Our speakers are industry experts and authors and you will receive a certificate of attendance to share at your next inspection.

Build your network

Meet other experienced childminding professionals. The perfect opportunity to network, ask questions and seek support.

Hear from Ofsted

A guest speaker from Ofsted will share advice and guidance to ensure you approach your next inspection with confidence.

Shop discounted resources

Shop for high quality, childcare focused educational services and resources at discounted prices.

Support from Childminding UK

Ask questions and get advice and support from Childminding UK staff.

Conference speakers

09:30

Conference opening

Neil Griffiths

Our Patron, Neil Griffiths will be opening the conference and spending the morning with us. “Time with Neil is an experience you will never forget!”

Neil Griffiths was a Primary School headteacher for 13 years before taking on the role of director of a National Literacy Support Project for the Basic Skills Agency. He came up with and developed Storysacks, promoting them to schools and communities throughout the UK. Many publishers and institutions have asked Neil to contribute his wealth of experience to their projects over the years. He has created award-winning play resources, written a nursery curriculum, a best-selling resource book on creative play, and imaginative material for the Early Learning Centre. Neil also finds time to write his own children’s picture books.

10:10

Ofsted keynote

Wendy Ratcliffe and Samantha Sleeman-Boss

Sam and Wendy will be sharing the latest information from Ofsted as well as explaining what effective early years teaching and pedagogy looks like and what they expect to see on inspection.

Sam Sleeman-Boss

Sam Sleeman-Boss is one of Ofsted’s Early Years Regulatory Inspectors. She is a qualified early years practitioner and Children’s Centre leader, who started her career as a childminder. Sam has considerable experience of inspection and regulation of early years settings and now works in Ofsted's early education policy team, providing inspector insight and support to policy colleagues and inspectors on early education curriculum and the education inspection framework (EIF).

Wendy Ratcliffe

Wendy is an Ofsted inspector, who has played a key role in developing the new Education Inspection framework. Wendy is involved in Inspectors training and also the early years curriculum roadshows that travel across the country engaging with early years practitioners on subjects such as how Ofsted look at communication and language on inspection.

11:15

Early Years Teaching – The Importance of Engagement

Tamsin Grimmer

During this session, Tamsin will explore the role of the childminder interacting and engaging with children. We will consider the importance of attunement and creating positive relationships with children and families and how childminders 'teach' children though day to day activities and an enabling home environment.

Tamsin Grimmer is the early years director of Linden Learning, an associate of Early Education and teaches at Norland College. She has a wealth of experience supporting Early Years Teachers and educators. Tamsin is passionate about young children’s learning and believes that all children deserve educators who are inspiring, dynamic, reflective and loving. She is a true advocate for adopting a loving pedagogy and has a keen interest in schematic play, promoting positive behaviour, supporting children's emotional development and inclusion. Tamsin has written several books aimed at educators and particularly enjoys planning and delivering training and supporting early years educators to improve outcomes for young children. When she isn’t supporting people to work with young children, she enjoys being a mum to her own three daughters. It’s a role she describes as her greatest challenge – putting what she teaches and preaches into practice.

13:45

What is Pedagogy? A discussion of the people, places, practice and provision involved in a unique curriculum

Dr. Sue Allingham

Through a mix of activities, discussion and film clips we will unpick the key things that influence a pedagogical approach to working with the youngest children. Delegates will gain an overview that will enable them to explain how 'learning and development' is underpinned in their setting.

Sue started as a teacher, finally becoming a Senior Early Years Lead in a Primary School and Lead Teacher for her Local Authority. Moving into research Sue gained an MA then a Doctorate, both in Early Childhood Education, from Sheffield University. This led to becoming a Local Authority Early Years Adviser enabling her to develop her practice working with provision across the EYFS. As an Independent Consultant, Author and Trainer, Sue is known for her practical style of working through coaching, mentoring, modelling, training and working alongside teams to develop practice and provision.

Her interests in teaching and learning have led to work on emotional and physical environments that will support informed teaching and learning through an understanding of neuroscience and physical development This work has recently led to her being trained and accredited in the Brain-SET approach. This approach is rooted in early brain development and has added a new dimension to her work. Sue has also achieved a Level 2 Award in an Introduction to Neuroscience in Early Years, and has been trained in Physical Literacy, and the use of the Leuven Scales.

As a member of the Editorial Board of EYE (Early Years Educator) her writing is familiar to many and she has written two books that support practice across the Early Years and into Key Stage One – Transitions in the Early Years and Emotional Literacy in the Early Years. Both published by Practical Pre-School Books.

Schedule and venue

Schedule

Saturday 14 October 2023

  1. 08:00
    Registration, tea/coffee and browse stalls
  2. 09:15
    Welcome with Childminding UK and Jo Benford
  3. 09:30
    Neil Griffiths Patron
  4. 10:10
    Ofsted speaker
  5. 10:50
    Refreshments; meet delegates & browse stalls
  6. 11:15
    Tamsin Grimmer
  7. 12:45
    Lunch; meet delegates & browse stalls
  8. 13:45
    Dr. Sue Allingham
  9. 15:15
    Refreshments
  10. 15:30
    Prize draw
  11. 16:15
    Close

Pen Green Research Base, Corby

108 Rockingham Rd, Corby NN17 1AG
Directions

Accommodation

There is no overnight accommodation at Pen Green, but we have negotiated some discounts on hotels in the vicinity for delegates who wish to stay over.

The Raven Hotel

10% discount on en-suite rooms available. Book through the hotel directly and mention Childminding UK.

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Snooze Hotel

Book direct and say you are a Childminding UK delegate to receive a 5% discount

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Holiday Inn, Corby

£90 bed and breakfast per room per night. To activate discount use the code ‘PEN'

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Exhibitors and Marketplace

We’re pleased to host a number of childcare focused organisations who can offer many useful and innovative services and resources

Morton Michel

The UK’s leading Childcare Insurance Specialist

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Commotion Group

A wide variety of educational resources at knock down prices.

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Pen Green Research Base

An extension of our centre for children and families, we offer practitioners including childminders, a comprehensive range of professional development opportunities including a full early years degree programmes.

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Red Robin books

We publish books for children aged up to 12, written by great storytellers and illustrated by fabulous artists from around the world, including your Patron Neil Griffiths.

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Book tickets

Pen Green are kindly hosting and funding our conference and lunch.
Book soon to avoid disappointment as spaces are limited.

FREE

All tickets include refreshments and a hot lunch.