Minds Still Matter: Alliance names inspiring line-up for online Annual Conference
by Jess Gibson
The Early Years Alliance has revealed the line-up for its fourth virtual annual conference, which will take place on Thursday 20 June 2024.鈥
Minds Still Matter: a positive approach to supporting wellbeing in the early years鈥痺ill take place online and is free to attend for Alliance members, while just 拢15 for non-members.鈥
Following the publication of the Alliance鈥檚 Minds Still Matter report, this year鈥檚 conference will focus on the importance of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the early years workforce and how 鈥 despite the ongoing backdrop of external pressures 鈥 educators can rediscover the magic that lies at the heart of working in the early years.鈥
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鈥檚 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.鈥
Attendees will also have the opportunity to join one of three seminars:
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Supporting child development: the value of observations,鈥痟osted by鈥疭tella Louis, early years consultant and Nursery World Awards 2023 Trainer of the Year鈥
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Play in the early years: translating research into practice,鈥痩ed by鈥疉listair Bryce-Clegg, award-winning early years author, blogger, product designer and advocate of play鈥
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Creating a trauma-informed approach in early years settings and practice,鈥痟osted by鈥疛ane Evans, childhood trauma and anxiety media expert, TEDx speaker, author, parenting coach, trainer, and public speaker鈥
Attendees this year will, for the first time, have the opportunity to view all three seminars, with each one being recorded and circulated to all attendees after the event.鈥
Commenting Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:鈥淚 am delighted to announce such an inspirational line-up for this year鈥檚 Alliance Annual Conference.鈥
鈥淲hether 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 鈥 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鈥檚 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.鈥
鈥淚 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.鈥濃