Families at the heart: Early Years Alliance announces inspiring line-up for online Annual Conference

Leading early years membership organisation the Early Years Alliance has revealed the line-up for its third virtual annual conference.    

The event entitled, Families at the heart: the vital role of early years settings in supporting children, families and their local community, will take place from 6pm-8:45pm on Thursday 15 June, and once again is free to attend for Alliance members and just £15 for non-members.  

It will consider the ways in early years providers can work to build and maintain strong relationships with parents and carers at their settings, and reflect on how, at an increasingly challenging time for many, we can ensure that quality early years provision has families at its heart. 

This year’s opening conference features Lord John Bird MBE, the founder and editor-in-chief of The Big Issue alongside Beverley Barnett-Jones MBE, associate director (practice and impact) at the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and member of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood expert advisory group. The Alliance’s chief executive Neil Leitch will also address attendees on the vital role that early years settings play in supporting families.  

The evening will also see the announcement of this year’s Belle Tutaev Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Each year, the Award recognises a unique individual who has devoted themselves, over the years, to making a real difference to young children’s care and learning.   

Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend one of three practical seminars:  

• Creating a culture of safeguarding in your early years settings, led by Ann Marie Christian, safeguarding practitioner, consultant and Trustee of the Association of Child Protection Professionals 

• The role of listening within a loving pedagogy, hosted by early years director of Linden Learning and PGCE primary teacher education lecturer, Tamsin Grimmer 
• The power of joy, led by Ben Kingston-Hughes, managing director of Inspired Children, author and award-winning trainer.  

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: “I am delighted to announce such a stellar line-up for our third virtual annual conference.  

“As the cost-of-living crisis continues to affect families across the country, the role of early educators in supporting not just young children, but parents, carers and the wider community has never been more important. As such, we hope that this year’s conference will encourage providers to reflect on the invaluable support they deliver day-in and day-out, and inspire them to continue building and maintaining positive relationships with families attending their settings. 

“I look forward to hearing the contributions of each of our speakers and learning more about how we can put families at the heart of early years provision.” 

The full agenda  

6pm: Chair's introduction 

Keynote speakers: 

6:05pm: Lord John Bird MBE, founder and editor-in-chief of The Big Issue 

6:20pm: Beverley Barnett-Jones MBE, Associate Director (Practice and Impact), Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and member of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood expert advisory group 

6:35pm: Neil Leitch, CEO, Early Years Alliance 

6:50pm: Q&A 

7:10pm: Winner of Belle Tutaev Lifetime Achievement Award 

7:25pm: Neil Leitch introduces 2023 Play Week (Creating connections)  

7.30pm: Chair closes the first part of the conference 

Break 

7:50-8:45pm: Seminars (choice of one)  

Creating a culture of safeguarding in your early years setting, Ann Marie Christian, safeguarding practitioner, consultant and Trustee of the Association of Child Protection Professionals 

The role of listening within a loving pedagogy, Tamsin Grimmer, early years director of Linden Learning and PGCE primary teacher education lecturer 

The power of joy, Ben Kingston-Hughes, managing director of Inspired Children, author and award-winning trainer