Programme
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Registration, refreshments and exhibitor viewing
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Welcome and introduction
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OPENING KEYNOTE: What really matters for babies, toddlers and two-year-olds
Amidst increasing demand for out-of-home provision for babies, toddlers and two-year-olds, this keynote talk will provide critical insights about their care, play, development and learning, and identify key aspects of practice that support their wellbeing. To support children’s wellbeing effectively, the wellbeing of practitioners must also be supported, so it will also consider the particular challenges in caring for our youngest children and provide strategies for maintaining positive professional relationships and continuing professional development.
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Professional love
Is it possible to love children in a professional capacity? Do you feel confident to hug and show affection to the babies and toddlers in your care? Dr Jools Page considers why forming strong, loving attachments is important and how you can do this safely in a sensitive and considered way.
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Refreshments and exhibitor viewing
Your chance to network and view our exhibition of leading early years suppliers
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Care routines: Making every moment count
How to make care routines in the baby room – from nappy changing to mealtimes and sleep times –into language moments. Penny Tassoni will talk about the importance of communication for building trust and respect with the youngest of children while also providing stimulation and language development. She will give advice on how to tune in and have sustained one-to-one interactions through conversation, rhyme and song.
Workshops (choose A, B or C)
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A. Get moving!
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Explore Emmi Pikler’s ideas about the importance of self-initiated free movement in this interactive workshop. Using guided experiential activity based on the work of Ute Strub – a student then colleague of Emmi Pikler – delegates can regain awareness of their own movement patterns and so gain greater insight into the child’s experience. This benefits us in better understanding and nurturing the physical unfolding of babies and young children.
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B. Care matters: Respectful physical interactions
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This workshop will focus on physical interactions with babies and toddlers and the
importance of developing respectful care events for 0–3-year-olds. It will
explore the physical experiences of babies, and the importance of touch and
holding for a child’s sense of self and wellbeing. There will be opportunity to share ideas about how to make physical interactions a positive experience for children.
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C. Creating an exciting play environment
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Children move to a rhythm of their own choreography that echoes the heartbeat of life itself. Together we will question what our role is in children’s early play experiences and consider how we can observe and support their self-chosen play through an approach that is rooted in respect, enquiry, imitation and repetition. When we plan play spaces with our youngest of children’s well-being at the forefront, we create a symphony of growth and learning that resonates with everyone involved.
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Lunch and exhibitor viewing
Break
Good food and networking
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Brain building moments
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Research shows how important the first 1,000 days of life – from conception to two-years-old – are for baby’s brain development. But how can you successfully interact with the youngest of children to ensure that you capitalise on this essential window of opportunity? Neuroscience can seem overwhelming, but Clare Stead will explain how to observe, listen and thoughtfully initiate simple activities with the children in your baby room to nurture healthy brain development.
Clare Stead, early years consultant and founder of the baby development app Oliiki
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Case study: Working in Partnership
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From settling in processes to implementing its own ‘Caring for Under Twos’ policy, Megan Day explains how Snapdragons Nurseries – which won the Working with Babies and Toddlers Award at last year’s Nursery World Awards - works in partnership with families to ensure that children’s emotional and physical needs are met.
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Refreshments and exhibitor viewing
Break
Your chance to network and view our exhibition of leading early years suppliers
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Case study: ‘Baby You’re Fantastic’
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Hear how London Early Years Foundation works with the youngest of children and how it supports teachers in the baby rooms to form strong attachments, understand specific needs and provide an environment where babies and toddlers can thrive.
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Maximising unrestricted movement
Presentation
How you can support young children’s motor development to unfold naturally and avoid reliance on ‘containing’ equipment such as buggies, bouncy chairs and walkers.
Rachel Tapping explains the benefits of allowing babies and toddlers to have unrestricted movement; how to resource and plan your baby room so that they can have the time and support to move freely; and how to work with parents in this area.
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Sum-up and close of conference
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