The SPPA National Conference, AGM and Exhibition ‘Working in Partnership’ held on Friday 13 November in the Radisson SAS Hotel, Glasgow brought together delegates from all over the country. They enjoyed addresses from a variety of speakers, participated in the Annual General Meeting and viewed the exhibition. The exhibitors comprised SPPA, Step by Step, TTS Early Years, Playdale, Fine Solutions, Sticky Kids, Kiddiwash, Debutots Early Years Drama, Cowgate Under 5’s Centre Edinburgh, the Scottish Social Services Council, Care Commission, Cool Milk, Tempest Photography, Action for Sick Children (Scotland) and Mackay Insurance Brokers. The day provided a great opportunity for delegates to network, and to improve their knowledge of current best practice.

In his keynote address,  The Early Years Framework: Let’s get Serious, Tam Baillie, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, challenged all present to think about what they are doing to improve children’s lives through the Framework, and to return after a year and see how much progress can be evidenced.

In Partnership Works! Robert Walters, SPPA Deputy Chief Executive, highlighted how valuable partnership working is with a variety of stake holders; the Scottish Government,   local authorities, member groups, parents and volunteers, health boards and other agencies, and how much it is valued.  He introduced SPPA staff members Enola Butler Development Officer in Stirling, Michelle Wood Development Worker in Dumfries and Galloway, Judy Sedgley Development Worker in Falkirk, and Mary McConnell Development Officer in Glasgow, who illustrated these points well with their descriptions of the innovative practice that is evident in four projects that have been established across the country.   The services they described are separate from those services members receive as a right of membership such as the Information and Advice Helpline, publications, insurance and so on.  Robert also spoke about SPPA’s subsidiary company ; SPPA Direct Childcare Services Ltd. which has been created to house a number of services that can income generate, to allow the organisation to increase its income streams. (View Powerpoint presentation)

Lynne McNair OBE, Head of Centre, and Lian Frizzel, Nursery Nurse, from Cowgate Under Fives in Edinburgh, in their presentation Good Old Fashioned Practice-a Froebelian Perspective described how staff enable the children to participate fully in decision making. Film was shown and examples of practice were given which illustrated Friedrich Froebel’s principles perfectly. Delegates saw how staff work to enable trustful communications between children and adults to develop. The presentation demonstrated the Centre’s nurturing environment, which offers opportunities to the children to express their opinions freely and to make decisions, thus reinforcing their competence and boosting their confidence and self esteem. (View Powerpoint presentation)

Mags Harwood, SPPA’s Membership Development Officer, gave a presentation on the services that SPPA provides.

Chris Miles, Consultant, in her informative and amusing address Challenging Behaviour, gave insight into how to manage children’s behaviour, by explaining the major impact that an adult’s behaviour has on the way children behave.

In Effective Partnership Working John Theedom, Director of Business Development from the Pre-school Learning Alliance in England, shared more views on partnership working, explaining the situation south of the border in his presentation, ‘How to create effective partnership working with the ‘Third Sector’ (View Powerpoint presentation). Fellow panel members, Liz Paterson, HMIe Inspector, Early Years National Specialist, spoke on partnership working with the voluntary sector, and Falkirk Council’s Chief Executive, Mary Pitcaithly OBE gave the council’s perspective (View Powerpoint presentation). The speeches concluded with an opportunity for the delegates to ask questions after which Ian McLaughlan, SPPA Chief Executive, succinctly summarised the day’s proceedings. Delegate’s feedback on the day included these comments:

The content was varied and relevant to all delegates.

Great to hear what SPPA is doing in different areas.

All speakers good – gained lots of useful info.

I enjoyed sessions dealing with practical issues which are interesting to childcare workers.

A fabulous day.