Association for Professional Development in Early Years Date: 6th May 2006
Venue: Manchester Metropolitan University
This Conference was a great success. It was the first regional conference for TACTYC. Our annual conferences and AGM are held in November each year but the Executive wanted to develop a new initiative for a Spring event. This conference was held in conjunction with the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Manchester Metropolitan University. Professor Lesley Abbott OBE at ManchesterMet and leader of the Birth-three project, is currently President of TACTYC so this seemed a great place to start. Conference places were quickly snapped up and it was a full house when Lesley Abbott opened the day. Dame Gillian Pugh gave us a comprehensive overview of the current issues. Helen Moylett was able to provide delegates with a red hot copy of The Early Years Foundation Stage document which had been launched only the day before by the Minister for Children, the Right Honourable Beverley Hughes MP.
The workshops were varied and well attended and Jackie Eyles and Avril Brock, who were looking after the TACTYC stall, also managed to sign up some new members – we need to keep expanding our membership. Pat Broadhead and Ann Langston closed the conference by looking at future challenges for the childcare workforce development and for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Lunch was delicious and the many exhibitions stimulated ideas and possibilities for delegates.
Our three main speakers at the Conference gave excellent presentations which can be found here: Helen Moylett, Ann Langston, Gillian Pugh.
Look out for our next regional conference to be held at Leeds Metropolitan University in May 2007. Our focus will be on play and diversity, a key area for TACTYC into the foreseeable future.