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The States Early Years Team and College of Further Education came together earlier this month to run the fourth Joyous Childhood Conference, aiming to inspire and educate the Early Years workforce.
Hosted at St Sampsons High School, the event was designed to facilitate professional development and collaboration, to benefit all of the youngest islanders. It updated workforce knowledge of current Early Years practice without the expense of leaving the Bailiwick, and allowed a chance for all Early Years practitioners to network with colleagues and build relationships; sharing good practice and encouraging professional discussion and debate.
Eight prestigious Early Years speakers and authors travelled to Guernsey to deliver workshops and keynote speeches for the Conference. They focused on outdoor learning and storytelling, parent partnerships, a loving pedagogy, early phonological awareness, curriculum development and attachment theory.
The closing keynote was delivered by Baroness Floella Benjamin where she took the audience on an inspirational journey showing how they can make a difference and change the world for children and young people with the message ‘childhood lasts a lifetime.’
Ruth Swailes delivered a lunchtime keynote looking at how children develop a sense of self and how practitioners can support children to regulate, build resilience, curiosity, and emotional intelligence. Jon Cree, Tamsin Grimmer, Rachel Cowper, Erica Mason and Jamel Carly Campbell ran workshops throughout the day. Practitioners chose three from the six workshops offered and gained theoretical and practical insight into many aspects of their roles.
140 delegates from the Bailiwick, UK and the British and Irish Council early years members attended the day. The President of Education, Sport and Culture Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen opened the day alongside Ruth Sharp, the Head of the States Early Years Team.
The Health Improvement Commission’s sponsored the healthy lunch and provided two raffle prizes linked to early years healthy eating and active travel. A SEYT raffle of twenty-six stage-appropriate prizes were also awarded.
A number of schools and Early Years settings provided an early years learning environment as part of an exhibition of outstanding practice, shared throughout the day.
This showcase of best practice learning spaces in twelve areas included outdoor play, number, writing, block play, cooking, books, art, role play, loose parts, and a calm zone.
St Martin’s Reception and Year One teachers created an exhibition inspired on the 2022 Joyous Childhood conference keynote speaker Greg Bottrill. This focused on supporting writing development in Reception and Year One and followed two children’s journeys through a school year using the ‘Drawing Club’ and ‘Curious Quests’ to inspire writing for purpose and successful application of phonic knowledge.
Ruth Sharp, Head of the States Early Years Team, said: ‘It is such a privilege to work across the early years sector and The Joyous Childhood Conference enables our workforce to access otherwise inaccessible high-quality training. To be reminded and recognised for the vital work of early childhood education and care is important. Sharing best practice and having this opportunity to learn from and listen to specialists across Early Years is so beneficial for our workforce and ultimately our children.’
The event was sponsored by the John Ramplin Trust, Office Maker, Milton Produce, The Guernsey Dairy, Les Rocquettes, Specsavers and the Health Improvement Commission.
When asked what went well, feedback from the delegates included a rating 9.2 as to how much attendees enjoyed the conference:
‘Baroness Benjamin was the most inspirational talk I’ve ever listened too. What an amazing addition to the day.’
‘It really has been an amazing day. This really reaffirmed the work that we are doing and the future thoughts that we have. Thank you to everyone who made this happen.’
‘Such a valuable experience! I particularly liked hearing from the guest speakers who brought diversity and were able to being different perspectives and universal values! Flo made me cry! Such a beautiful speech.’
