Minds Still Matter: Alliance names inspiring line-up for online Annual Conference

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

Minds Still Matter: a positive approach to supporting wellbeing in the early years will take place online from 6pm-8:45pm on Thursday 20 June and is once again free to attend for Alliance members and just £15 for non-members. 

Following the publication of the Alliance’s Minds Still Matter report, this year’s conference will focus on the importance of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the early years workforce and how, despite the ongoing backdrop of external pressures, educators can rediscover the magic that lies at the heart of working in the early years.  

The opening conference features Professor Jack Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University alongside award-winning journalist, author and public speaker Poorna Bell. The Alliance’s chief executive Neil Leitch will also address attendees on the unique challenges facing the early years workforce and how educators can find the joy of working in the early years again. 

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

  • Supporting child development: the value of observations, hosted by Stella Louis, early years consultant and Nursery World Awards 2023 Trainer of the Year  

  • Play in the early years: translating research into practice, led by Alistair Bryce-Clegg, award-winning early years author, blogger, product designer and advocate of play 

  • Creating a trauma-informed approach in early years settings and practice, hosted by Jane Evans, childhood trauma and anxiety media expert, TEDxspeaker, author, parenting coach, trainer, and public speaker 

This year, for the first time, attendees will also have the opportunity to view all three, with each seminar recorded and circulated to all event attendees after the event.  

Commenting Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:&Բ;“I am delighted to announce such an inspirational line-up for this year’s Alliance Annual Conference.  

“Whether you are working in a nursery, pre-school, as childminder or in a baby and toddler group, the challenges facing the early years sector has never been more acute – with our recent Minds Still Matter report showing that more than eight in ten educators are regularly stressed about a work-related issue. As such, we hope that this year’s conference will shed light on the importance of supporting the wellbeing of the early years workforce and inspire educators to rediscover the value of working as an early educator.  

“I look forward to hearing the contributions of each of our speakers and learning more about how we can support the sector to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing.” 

The full agenda 

  • 6pm: Conference opens 

  • 6:05pm: Professor Jack Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, on how the development of young children is shaped by the adults who care for them, the wellbeing of the early years workforce, and the communities in which they live.  

  • 6:20pm: Poorna Bell, award-winning journalist, author and public speaker, on the impact of mental health challenges and the importance of supporting positive mental health and wellbeing, building resilience and self-care 

  • 6.35pm: Neil Leitch, CEO, Early Years Alliance 

  • 6.50pm: Q&A 

  • 7.10pm: Belle Tutaev Lifetime Achievement Award  

  • 7.30pm - 7.50pm: Comfort break 

  • 7.50pm - 8.45pm:  Seminars 

 

Seminars 

Early attendee can choose to attend one of the three following seminars. This year, each seminar will be recorded and circulated to all event attendees. 

  

Supporting child development: the value of observations  

Stella Louis, early years consultant and Nursery World Awards 2023 Trainer of the Year  

  

Play in the early years: translating research into practice  

Alistair Bryce-Clegg, award-winning early years author, blogger, product designer and advocate of play.  

   

Creating a trauma-informed approach in early years settings and practice   

Jane Evans, childhood trauma and anxiety media expert, TEDxspeaker, author, parenting coach, trainer, and public speaker