By Jackie Brock, Children in Scotland Chief Executive
As Chief Executive of an extremely busy children’s charity I’m already looking forward to the summer holidays. But not because of getting a break from work or finding a far-flung place in the sun.
In a few months, alongside the International Family Day Care Organisation and the Scottish Childminding Association, we’re running a major international conference on childcare, children’s rights and the early years. The quality of the programme for My Rights, My Voice: Celebrating the rights of the child has convinced me that Edinburgh will absolutely be the best place to be in late July.
Here are five reasons why.
1. There’s a fantastic professional development opportunity in the form of a keynote speech delivered by Professor Tina Bruce CBE. Author and editor of 29 books, Tina is one of the UK’s foremost experts on early education and play. With unrivalled insight and understanding of the key principles of early childhood, we are very lucky to have her as a guest speaker.
2. As children are increasingly exposed to screens from a young age, neuroscientist, writer and broadcaster Baroness Susan Greenfield will be discussing the impact digital technologies can have on the developing brain. She will ask: how can we harness, rather than be harnessed by, technology to create more meaningful lives?
3. Tim Gill, author of No Fear: Growing up in a risk averse society and a leading thinker on positive change in children’s everyday lives, will be appearing on day two of the event. For anyone interested in the balance our society needs to strike between children’s safety and their right to free play and learning from risk, Tim’s analysis shouldn’t be missed.
4. Underpinning the ‘learner journey’ at the conference will be a huge range of workshops, with topics encompassing creative arts in early childhood, mindfulness for children, community childminding and messy play.
5. Study visits will include a trip to Cowgate Under 5’s Nursery, one of Scotland’s most admired and in-demand early years services, in the heart of Edinburgh.
If you work in education, childcare, early years services or the children’s rights field, this really is one of the best learning and professional development opportunities of the year. The early bird offer is still available and you can book an individual day for just £125. I hope to see you there.
My Rights, My Voice: Celebrating the rights of the child runs from 22-25 July in Edinburgh. Find out more about the conference and book:
www.ifdco.com