December / January Newsletter Welcome to our first e-newsletter! Over the last 12 months we have been delighted to meet so many of you at our Alliance Connect events and training workshops. We are very pleased to have connected with members and non-members in Leicestershire, Rutland, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire, and look forwar dto meeting many more of you in the new year! We are working to provide future events and workshops in your area and always welcome feedback and suggestions about what kind of support you would like - so please do get in touch or drop us a line to say hello! Bev O'Keefe Striving for Outstanding - Effective Communication in the Early Years Our Alliance Connect Conference in Leicester was a great success, and we received some wonderful feedback from delegates. Thank you to everyone who came along - it was great to speak to so many Alliance members and non-members alike! Our keynote speaker Michael Freeston provided great insight into the DfE’s proposed changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile, and was followed by some fantastic workshops focusing on communication and language. The Makaton Taster session proved particularly popular, and we are excited to be holding a Level 1 Makaton course next term. Attendance at the taster session is not a requirement, so please look out for details of this workshop (coming soon) and we hope to see you there! Feedback from the event:
Have your say! Our reconvened AGM will take place on 29 January 2020. Can't attend? We have made voting by proxy far more straightforward, making it easier to have your say. As an Alliance member you have the right to vote, so click the button below to register your vote. Forms must be submitted by midday on 22 January. Any questions or would like us to talk through the process? We can even do the IT bit for you. Call us on 0116 229 1994 All you need are your membership details and your mouse - voting is just a click away! Keeping children active in winter At this time of year, when the days are cold or wet, it can seem as if there are fewer opportunities to get children out and about and moving. However, it is important that under-fives still maintain the recommended three hours of physical activity a day — roughly a quarter of a child’s waking time. The Infant & Toddler Forum shares some ideas for keeping children active during the darker months. Have you responded to the EYFS consultation? The Department for Education (DfE) is currently consulting on proposed changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage. Do you have space to host an Alliance Connect event? We are looking for venues to host our Alliance Connect events across the East Midlands Service Hub area. Alliance Connect meetings offer an opportunity to meet other childcare practitioners and to explore the issues facing those involved in managing a childcare setting. There will be opportunities to share good practice and to obtain mutual support. If you could host us at your setting, please do get in touch. Get in touch: Watch out for details of our Spring Alliance connect events coming soon! Looking for In-house CPD Workshops for your staff? Up-skill your whole teams CPD at one workshop. Why not speak to us about in-house workshops prices start at only £210 for up to 7 staff for member groups Call the Service Hub for more information on 0116 229 1994 |