Alliance Annual Conference 2025
No child left behind: Putting the needs and voices of children at the heart of decision-making
Thursday 26 June 2025
6.15pm - 8.45pm
Virtual, via Zoom
At the heart of working in the early years is the belief that all children, without exception, deserve the best possible start in life.
But what does this mean in practice and, given the huge challenges currently facing the early years, how can we as a sector work together to achieve a vision of the future where no child is left behind?
This year’s Alliance annual conference promises to be an uplifting and inspiring virtual event, where we will explore what it really means to put the needs of the child at the heart of early years provision, and look that the practical steps that we as providers can take to provide equity of opportunity to all children, regardless of background, circumstance or level of need,.
In light of the ongoing financial pressures facing the early years sector, this year’s event will once again take place virtually to minimise costs for attendees, with tickets once again free for Alliance members and just £15 for non-members.
SEMINARS
Early attendee can choose to attend one of three seminars. Each seminar is recorded and circulated to all event attendees.
Light up language – Alice Sharp, early years specialist and trainer
Voice, speech and language are the tools for verbal communication. Oracy is the literacy of the spoken word. But do our play experiences help each child develop the skills of how to speak and express themselves when sharing their thoughts, ideas and knowledge?
Join early years expert Alice Sharp in a completely interactive session which will use poems, rhymes, songs, books and stories to explore the foundation skills or oracy. You will also explore how vocabulary development, tonal variation, clarity of pronunciation and turn-taking can support the learning opportunities you share in your early years setting.
During the session, you will also consider:
- Six Golden Threads of Learning
- Components of Language Acquisition
- The Pyramid of Language
- Pre-verbal and Early Interaction
- Attention and Listening
- Play
- Understanding
- Expressing
- Speech Sounds
- Conversation Skills
Early steps … to an inclusive setting – Suzy Rowland, founder and CEO of the Happy in School Project
As early educators, we know how important high-quality care and early education is for all children, including those with additional needs, to enable the best possible start in life. And yet, all too often, families can struggle to find and access early years provision that meets their children’s needs, which can have a significant impact on later learning.
In this engaging and thought-provoking session, Suzy Rowland, founder and CEO of the Happy in School Project, will:
- explore how early years settings can open their doors to all children, particularly those with SEND
- identify key priorities and starting points
- share practical tips and suggestions that you can implement into your setting straight away
- discuss how you can transform your setting into a place of sanctuary and security for everyone
Supporting children and families experiencing domestic abuse in the early years – Jo Sharpen, consultant
Domestic abuse can have a devastating impact on young children, both physically and emotionally. With recent statistics showing that around 20% of children in the UK have lived with an adult perpetrating domestic abuse, what can early years settings do to supporting children and families facing a domestic abuse situation?
In this seminar, Jo Sharpen, a consultant specialising on the impacts of abuse and trauma on children and young people, will focus on the impact of domestic abuse on children under five and highlight the value of trauma-informed practice for early educators.
Jo will also discuss the Juniper Programme, a groupwork programme that she wrote for mothers and children under four who have experienced domestic abuse, which is currently being piloted by the Early Years Alliance in Lewisham, south London.
AGENDA
6.15pm: Conference opens
6:20pm: Dr Melernie Meheux, educational psychologist, certified play therapist and BPS Division of Educational Psychology Committee member
6:35pm: Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate
6.50pm: Neil Leitch, CEO, Early Years Alliance
7.05pm: Q&A
7.25pm: Belle Tutaev Lifetime Achievement Award
7.40pm: Graham McMillan closes the opening conference
7.45pm - 8pm: Comfort break
8pm - 8.45pm: Seminars
