Childminder Conference

Morning Key Note session – Effective Childminding Practice

Key Note Speaker: Tamsin Grimmer

Aims of the session

• Consider an overview of effective childminding practice and what constitutes outstanding practice;
• Review your policy and practice in the light of this;
• Consider the statutory framework of the EYFS, both in terms of positive relationships and creating an enabling home-based learning environment.

About the speaker

Tamsin Grimmer is an experienced Early Years Consultant who has a keen interest in how young children learn and develop. She has improved outcomes for children as an Early Years Consultant for two local authorities and worked as a Childminder, Area SENCo, teacher and lecturer. Tamsin Grimmer has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She believes that all children deserve practitioners who are inspiring, dynamic, reflective and passionate about their learning. The main way that Tamsin assists with this is through inspiring and motivating those who work with them through delivering training and consultancy. In addition, Tamsin has written several books including the ones shown here. Her latest book “Love and Nurture in the Early Years” was co written with Dr Aaron Bradbury – Look out for Tamsin and Aaron’s webinar that they are delivering for our Hub on this topic, (live and recorded version will be available).

Afternoon Workshops (Attendees split into 2 groups for the afternoon and attend 2 X 1 hr workshops with a break in between)

Workshop A – A Brighter Future for All

Speaker: Dr Valerie Daniel, Executive Headteacher – Washwood Heath Nursery School

About this workshop

This workshop will help you to develop your awareness, understanding and practice with regards to issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion. It will include the following elements:-

• Challenging perceptions
• Understanding unconscious bias and the impact this has on children
• Being aware of micro aggressions and the potential impact this might have on practice
• How to create a sense of belonging for all children in your home based setting
• Fostering a discrimination free learning environment

About the speaker

Dr Valerie Daniel is a qualified Teacher with over 40 years’ experience with the last 16 years as a Maintained Nursery School head teacher and the last two years as an Executive headteacher over two nursery schools. She is one of fifteen Birmingham Association of Maintained Nursery Schools (BAMNS) head teachers who work within a contractual collaboration. Valerie has a deep interest in the dynamics of the current Early Years Sector and received her Doctorate in Education from the University of Birmingham on her thesis titled ‘The Perceptions of a Leadership Crisis in the Early Years Sector (EYS)’. She is also the author of ‘Anti-Racist Practice in the Early Years’. Valerie’s other roles include public speaking and being a trained Systems Leader and Leadership Mentor for other head teachers and leaders in the Early Years Sector. Valerie is a published author. She has written Anti Racist Practice in the Early Years and she has also contributed to other books that focus on promoting inclusive practice.

Workshop B – Tiny Voices, Language development through music for babies

Speakers: Jenny Davies (Lead Early Years Music Tutor; Trafford LA & Laura McCandless  (Speech & Language Therapist)

About this workshop

Jenny and Laura have been working on developing the Tiny Voices activities over the last 12 months for our Hub. They have combined their areas of expertise to develop a program of effective and easy to deliver activities for babies that would be suitable for Childminder and Nursery settings. All of the suggested resources for the activities have been specifically selected so that they can be cheaply and easily sourced. Jenny and Laura will be sharing the activities they have developed during this workshop and you will be able to access the full pack electronically via the Hub website.

The workshop will include the following elements:-

• Discussion around how you can create the sessions in your setting (looking through the resources provided in the pack) and what resources you’ll need to gather.
• Demonstration of some of the core songs and rhymes (Sing-a-long signs included) that are included in the program.
• A look at some of the communication strategies that are embedded in the program e.g. vocabulary flower.