The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) runs two courses specifically dealing with race issues:
* Working with the strengths of black families. This course aims to begin to acknowledge the need to work with the strengths of black families and develop appropriate skills. Participants learn to recognise the predominantly Eurocentric values of family life in Britain, demonstrate knowledge of the effects and processes of institutional oppression on black clients, and practice and demonstrate techniques for empowering black clients.
* Prejudicial blocks to good practice. This course examines how personal prejudices develop, hampering objective attempts to ensure the best interests of the child are met. It demonstrates through an action plan how to provide an equal and relevant service to children irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, culture or religion.
Contact Gillian Weston, Training Administrator, NSPCC Child Protection Training Centre, 3 Gilmour Close, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, LE4 1EZ (0116 234 7200, fax 0116 234 0464, e-mail gweston@nspcc.org.uk,website www.nspcc.org.uk).
The Working Group Against Racism in Children's Resources (WGARCR) undertakes two types of training, one concerned with promoting positive images in children's resources in the early years, the other providing training for advocates supporting pupils excluded from school (see Exclusion, below). Training is locally, in response to requests from statutory and voluntary groups.
Early years training covers the following half-and full-day courses:
* Evaluation and selection of children's resources in an anti-racist framework.
* Celebrating festivals in an anti-racist framework.
* Presenting positive images in posters and displays.
* Promoting children's first languages in order to nurture their identity.
Contact WGARCR, Lady Margaret Hall Settlement, 460 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 3LX (020 7627 4594).
Behaviour
Children in Scotland is holding workshops on:
* Promoting positive behaviour in the early years, on 18 September in Edinburgh and 20 November, venue to be confirmed. Young children's behaviour develops as a result of how they experience life and how people behave towards them and each other. Promoting positive behaviour in children during their early years creates an opportunity for childcare workers to provide sound experiences that can lead to children developing strategies for managing their own anger, and understanding how to resolve conflict without violence.
Contact Alison Rowan, Children in Scotland, Princes House, 5 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh EH2 4RG (0131 222 2405, e-mail arowan@childreninscotland.org.uk,website www.childreninscotland.org.uk).
Crechendo Training is running day courses and workshops on:
* Understanding your child's behaviour, on 18 and 19 July. This will show those working with children (and parents) how to set consistent and age-appropriate boundaries and offer advice on behavioural strategies to avoid disappointment and frustration for children and their carers.
* Understanding your child's developmental milestones, on 27 June, 12 and 13 July. This will explore all developmental areas and key stages in the first three years of life, and include activities to help professionals and parents see the world from a child's point of view.
Contact Alice Lewes, Crechendo Training, 6 Grange Mills, Weir Road, London SW12 ONE (020 8772 8160, e-mail training@crechendo.com,website www.crechendo.co.uk).
The Institute of Education/Continuing Professional Development is holding courses on:
* Developing skills in observing young children on 9 October. This practical course for support staff working at the foundation stage will help develop observation and recording skills and show how to evaluate observations and make assessments.
* Understanding and managing behaviour in the early years, on 30 January 2002. For all those working with foundation stage children, this course will discuss strategies to deal with problem behaviour and how it relates to personal, social and emotional development.
Contact CPD/INSET Office, The Institute of Education, University of London, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H OAL (020 7612 6589, fax 020 7612 6600, e-mail CPD.INSET@ioe.ac.uk,website www.ioe.ac.uk).
The National Early Years Network has workshops on promoting citizenship under the following headings:
* Managing difficult behaviour.
* Involving children in decisions that affect them.
* Understanding and building children's self-esteem.
* Teaching young children to resolve conflicts without violence.
ng children's spiritual and moral development.
Contact the National Early Years Network, 77 Holloway Road, London N7 8JZ (020 7607 9573, fax 020 7700 1105, e-mail neyn.org@virgin.net).
The New Learning Centre runs free talks each week in London in West Hampstead, Notting Hill Gate and Clapham from 7 to 10pm on different aspects of parenting and education. Forthcoming talks include:
* Bullying and teasing; Turning crisis into opportunity, on 26 June in Notting Hill.
* Regaining adult authority: Everyday discipline that really works, on 4 July in West Hampstead.
* Dyslexia and dyspraxia: Positive approaches at home and in the classroom (including a video), on 17 July in West Hampstead.
* Communication skills: How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk, on 24 July in Notting Hill.
Other talks include:
* What do I do when my child says 'No': Getting back in charge.
* Resolving parent-child conflicts: Homework, mealtimes, bedtimes, television.
* Self-esteem and school performance: Motivation and self-confidence - keys to school success.
* Dealing successfully with the sensitive child: Positive alternatives to parenting stress.
* Positive discipline: What to do when you've already 'tried everything'.
* Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and hyperactivity: Understanding and coping.
* Attention seeking: What it means, and what parents and teachers can do.
There is also a free all-day parenting workshop in Camden, north London on 30 June for carers and parents of children up to the age of four.
The centre also runs courses and workshops for which it charges.
Contact the New Learning Centre, 211 Sumatra Road, London NW6 1PF (020 7794 0321 or 020 7794 5328, fax 020 7431 8600, e-mail tnlc@dial.pipex.com,website www.parenting-skills.com).
NIA Consultancy Services has on-site training workshops on:
* Promoting positive behaviour: looking at participants' reactions to children's behaviour and the language used around them, as well as at tactics.
* Working in partnership: Looking at the importance of passing information on to relevant parties and how groups work in partnership.
Contact Yvette Wilson, NIA Consultancy Services, 12 Harris Street, Walthamstow, London E17 8EQ (020 8539 8834, e-mail yvettew.2000@virgin.net).
NIPPA: The Early Years Organisation has introduced a series of new short courses to met the needs of the early years workforce in Northern Ireland. These include:
* Managing challenging behaviour in children.
* Promoting adult/child interventions.
* The pre-school child with autism: Developing a visually structured approach.
NIPPA also runs courses on:
* Managing children's behaviour.
* Child development.
* Meeting the play needs of young children.
* Working with the under-twos.
* Partnership with parents.
* Child protection.
NIPPA's NVQ Level 2/3 Underpinning Knowledge programmes will be available throughout Northern Ireland from September. Some funding may be available through bursary schemes and through an individual learning account.
Contact NIPPA, 6c Wildflower Way, Apollo Road, Belfast BT12 6TA (028 9066 2825, fax 028 9038 1270, e-mail training@nippa.org).
The Scottish Out-of-School Care Network provides training by request in all aspects of out-of-school care, specifically tailored to meet the needs of trainees. Topics include:
* Promoting positive behaviour.
Contact the Scottish Out-of-School Care Network, Floor 6, Fleming House, 134 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3 6ST (0141 331 1301, fax 0141 331 1206, e-mail info@soscn.u-net.com,website www.soscn.u-net.com).
Bereavement
The Child Bereavement Trust
is a national UK charity providing specialised training and support for professionals to improve their response to the needs of bereaved families. Forthcoming events, both at the trust's headquarters in High Wycombe, include:
* Understanding children and young people's needs in loss and grief, on 30 July and 19 September. This one-day workshop is aimed at increasing professionals' understanding of children who have suffered loss and grief, to help them recognise their likely reactions and behaviour patterns, and how best to provide a supportive environment.
* Loss, change and grief in primary school settings, on 12 October. This Inset Day for primary schools aims to help teachers and other professionals working with young children to respond to children's needs and concerns by becoming more aware of how they respond to loss and change, including the separation of families.
Contact the Child Bereavement Trust, Aston House, West Wycombe, High Wycombe, Bucks HP14 3AG (01494 446648, fax 01494 440057, e-mail enquiries@childbereavement.org.uk,website www.childbereavement.org.uk).
Crisis Training Education Counselling (CRI-TEC) runs day workshops on coping with sudden death at various venues throughout the country.
* A series of one-day workshops will explore issues around the emotional cost of caring and will look at the effect of stress, burn-out, and coping with critical incidents. They are on 11 July in Cambridge, 25 July in Chester, 15 August in Bristol, and 28 November in Leeds.
Contact CRI-TEC Conference Office, Accident and Emergency Department, Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3EX (0113 292 6498, fax 0113 292 2810).
Early Education is holding a conference on:
* Play therapy for bereaved children, in Tyneside on 26 June.
Contact Early Education, 136 Cavell Street, London E1 2JA (020 7539 5400, fax 020 7539 5409, e-mail office@early-education.org.uk,website www.early-education.org.uk).
Bullying
Kidscape, a national charity which teaches children and all those involved with children about child safety, runs courses on:
* Anti-bullying, which looks at resolving and reducing incidents, changing behaviour, supporting and empowering victims, peer support and mediation.
Kidscape holds other courses including child protection, behaviour management, stress management, Ofsted preparation and school management.
Contact Claude Nights, Training co-ordinator, Kidscape, 2 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH (020 7730 3300, fax 020 7730 7081, website www.kidscape.org.uk).
Childminding
The Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (CACHE) runs the following course with the National Childminding Association:
* CACHE Level 3 certificate in childminding practice, which covers the broad range of skills needed by all registered childminders. There are three units -Introducing, Developing and Extending Childminding Practice.
Contact CACHE, 8 Chequer Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3XZ (01727 847636, fax 01727 867609, e-mail info@cache.org.uk,website www.cache.org.uk) or the National Childminding Association, 8 Masons Hill, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EY (020 8464 6164, fax 020 8290 6834, e-mail info@ncma.org.uk,website www.ncma.org.uk).
The Northern Ireland Childminding Association is holding:
* A conference on special needs, terms and conditions, on 23 June in Newtownards.
* The NICMA annual conference, on 20 October in Londonderry.
* Introduction to childminding courses in the Northern Health and Social Services Board Area, up to November.
Contact the Northern Ireland Childminding Association 16-18 Mill Street, Newtownards, Co Down BT23 4LU (028 9181 1015, fax 028 9182 0921, e-mail info@nicma.org,website www.nicma.org).
The Riverside Early Years Training Centre runs training courses on:
* Introducing childminding practice.
* Developing childminding practice (a nine-month course).
Contact the Riverside Early Years Training Centre, Minton Lane, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 6DQ (0191 200 5200, fax 0191 200 5300).
Child protection
Children in Scotland is holding workshops on:
* Dealing with conflict, anger and aggression, on 16 November, venue to be confirmed, and on 7 December in Edinburgh. This one-day course will consider awareness of and explore strategies for communicating with young people experiencing conflict, anger and aggression. It will focus on strategies for negotiation and de-escalating difficult situations; and promote positive models of behaviour. Ways that staff can support themselves and others in stressful situations will also be explored.
* Working with children with drug-using parents, on 4 July in Glasgow. This day workshop will focus on how best to support children and young people with drug-using parents. It will explore relevant policy and legislation, the needs of children of drug-using families, risk assessment, family welfare issues, child protection issues and inter-agency working.
Contact Children in Scotland, as above.
Common Threads Consultancy runs a half-day course on:
* Child protection.
Contact Common Threads Consultancy, Wessex House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh, Hants SO50 9FD (07000 785215, fax 07000 780625, e-mail info@commonthreads.co.uk,website www.commonthreads. co.uk).
The Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (CACHE) offers professional development units within its various courses on:
* Supporting and contributing to the protection of children from abuse.
* Supporting families in distress.
* Protecting children.
Contact CACHE, as above.
Montessori Centre International is running a seminar on:
* Issues around child abuse. It will discuss child abuse, child protection and the Children's Act 1989.
Contact Montessori Centre International, 18 Balderton Street, London W1K 6TG (020 7493 0165, fax 020 7629 7808, e-mail mci@montessori.ac.uk,website www.montessori.ac.uk).
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) runs courses on:
* Domestic violence. This three-day course for professionals working with children aims to raise awareness of domestic violence and consider its impact on children. It will explore how legal remedies can be used more effectively and examine inter-agency issues.
* Working with parents of children with learning disabilities. The course aims to develop an increased understanding of the range of challenging behaviours and their possible causes and to formulate an individual action plan to take back to the workplace.
* Multi-agency assessments. This course for practitioners, supervisors and managers will introduce and explore a multi-agency model for the assessment and provision of services to children and families.
* As part of its training materials, the NSPCC is launching a new publication this summer entitled Protecting children: A guide to recognising and responding to child abuse.
Contact Gillian Weston, Training Administrator, NSPCC Child Protection Training Centre, 3 Gilmour Close, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, LE4 1EZ (0116 234 7200, fax 0116 234 0464, e-mail gweston@nspcc.org.uk,website www.nspcc.org.uk).
As a direct response to an increasing number of requests for advice, assistance and support in improving practice, the NSPCC has extended its range of consultancy services to statutory and voluntary agencies and to private and business sectors. These consultancy services are divided into two distinct areas.
* The Safeguarding Children in the Community initiative. Within Safeguarding, the NSPCC has been working to develop policies, guidelines and training for many sporting and voluntary organisations. This work has included consultancy to day-care and early years organisations. Its aim is to meet the growing demand from organisations providing a service or activity for young people.
* National Consultancy Services. Within the National Consultancy Services, it is able to provide a comprehensive consultancy service to other statutory agencies, national government departments and large charities, providing assistance across a wide range of issues.
For more information about Safeguarding Children in the Community contact national development officers Helen Edwards (0116 2347230, fax 0116 2340464, e-mail hedwards@nspcc.org.uk)or Jenny Myers (0116 2347231, fax 0116 2340464, e-mail jmyers@nspcc.org.uk).
For more information about National Consultancy Services, contact Tom Narducci, national consultancy services manager (0116 2347232 fax 0116 2340464, e-mail tnarducci@nspcc.org.uk).
* NSPCC Educare Child Protection Awareness Programmes. In association with de Brus Marketing Services, the NSPCC has developed three new interactive learning programmes designed to teach those who have contact with children through their work or leisure activities to gain the confidence to act upon concerns about children and play a role in preventing abuse. Its aims include teaching people to recognise that a child needs help to feel confident to get the first vital step to get assistance. Choice of modules includes: child protection awareness programme, keeping children safe, and keeping children safe in sport.
* The NSPCC can also provide learning materials for trainers.
Contact Tom Narducci, as above (or call de Brus Marketing Services on 01926 436219).
NIA Consultancy Services runs an on-site training workshop on:
* Child protection.
Contact NIA Consultancy Services, as above.
Nippa: The Early Years Organisation runs a course on:
* Child protection.
Contact NIPPA, as above.
The Riverside Early Years Training Centre runs training courses and workshops on:
* Child protection for those working with children and young people. Targeted at anyone working with children and families, but particularly those in group care, the course provides a definition of child abuse, its signs and indicators. Participants should gain an understanding of the legal framework and their role in procedures and investigations.
* Basic communication.
* Multiple abuse in early years.
* Domestic violence.
Contact the Riverside Early Years Training Centre, as above.
The Scottish Out-of-School Care Network provides training by request in all aspects of out-of-school-care, specifically tailored to meet the needs of trainees. Topics include:
* Child protection.
Contact the Scottish Out-of-School Care Network, as above.
Training Leaders in Childcare has a course on:
* Developing and implementing a professional abuse policy. This aims to raise awareness in nursery managers and supervisors and address those emotionally involved. It includes implementing good practice in protecting children and also protecting staff from allegations of abuse.
Contact Julia Hart, Training Leaders in Childcare, 27 Sheep Street, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 3BX (01788 542082 or 07740 611917, e-mail jharttlc@aol.com).
Children and young people
Children in Scotland is running conferences on:
* Children's voices: The pedagogy and practice of listening to young children within services, on 7 September in Glasgow, to complement the launch of a European magazine.
* Children's voices: Taking account of the views of children and young people, on 1 and 2 November. This Children in Scotland annual conference will look at this topic with key speakers and study visits to projects around the Scottish Borders region.
Contact Elizabeth Sykes, Children in Scotland (address as above, 0131 222 2411, fax 0131 228 8585, e-mail esykes@children inscotland.org, website www.childreninscotland.org.uk).
The Save the Children: Centre for Young Children's Rights works with children, practitioners and policy makers on projects in London which aim to combat discrimination and promote children's views on issues affecting their lives. These include:
* Refugee children in the early years: including 'In Safe Hands', a new video training pack offering help and guidance to early-years practitioners and primary school teachers who work with refugee children. It contains guidance on how to provide emotional support to children who have experienced violent conflict, activities to support language development, the use of play and art and guidance on anti-racist practice.
* Increasing children's participation in early years settings.
* Improving the participation of children with disabilities.
The centre runs an information service and resource centre for early years practitioners.
Contact Judy Gough, Save the Children Centre for Young Children's Rights, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA (020 7700 8127, fax 020 7697 0982, e-mail cycr@scfuk.org.uk,website www.savethechildren.org.uk).
The University of Surrey Roehampton's continuing professional development department offers:
* Certificate in early childhood education, which runs from October to July on Wednesday evenings, for people looking for specialist training in early years, wishing to upgrade their qualifications or change career direction.
* MA in Early Childhood Studies. This postgraduate degree course takes between 18 months and four years, with programme entry in either September or February. It is devoted to the study of young children, their development, lives, families and contexts in which they are growing up.
Contact the Continuing Professional Development Office, Faculty of Education, University of Surrey Roehampton, Froebel College, Roehampton Lane, London SW15 5PJ (020 8392 3232, fax 020 8392 3148, e-mail enquiries@roehampton.ac.uk).
Exclusion
The Working Group Against Racism in Children's Resources (WGARCR) runs day courses to enable people working with children to act effectively and confidently as advocates on behalf of children and their families in resisting exclusions and ensuring children are properly facilitated in mainstream schools.
Contact WGARCR, as above.
Food hygiene
The Consortium for Purchasing and Distribution runs a range of health and safety courses in Bristol, London and other areas. These include:
* Food hygiene basic certificate.
* Food hygiene intermediate certificate.
* Food hygiene advanced diploma.
Contact the Consortium for Purchasing and Distribution, Hammond Way, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8RR (0117 904 5020, fax 0117 987 3120, e-mail corp.train@cityofbristol.ac.uk,website www.cityofbristol.ac.uk.).
The Riverside Early Years Training Centre runs a course on:
* Basic food hygiene, on various dates.
* Feeding the under-fives in daycare.
Contact the Riverside Early Years Training Centre, as above.
Inclusion Enquire, the national advice service for special educational needs (SEN) in Scotland, is holding day seminars for anyone who wants to assist families to take part in meetings concerning their child's special educational needs. The events aim to develop effective negotiation and communication skills, to promote joint working between professionals and parents and to raise awareness of dispute resolution techniques. Courses take place on 4 September in Stirling, 9 October in Castle Douglas, and 6 November, venue to be confirmed.
Contact Julia Dee Wilson, Enquire, Children in Scotland, address as above (0131 222 2424, e-mail jwilson@ childreninscotland.org.uk).
The Scottish Out-of-School Care Network provides training by request in all aspects of out-of-school care, specifically tailored to meet the needs of trainees. Topics include:
* Inclusive out-of-school care.
Contact the Scottish Out-of-School Care Network, as above).
Men
Men in Childcare Scotland is a working group formed by One-Parent Families Scotland and Children in Scotland in 1996. It provides information, organises training events and promotes networking among male workers and those interested in issues of men and childcare.
Men in Childcare Scotland's objectives are to increase awareness that childcare is a job for both men and women, and publicise opportunities for men to train to work in this area; promote good practice in the recruitment and support of men working in childcare; support existing male workers by maintaining a network of contacts, counter negative attitudes about male workers among staff, management committees and parents; encourage local authorities and other employers to recruit male workers at the basic level in childcare work; and develop positive guidelines about men working with young children.
Contact Ian Maxwell, One-Parent Families Scotland, 13 Gayfield Square, Edinburgh EH1 3NX (0131 556 3899, fax 0131 557 9650, e-mail opfs@gn.apc.org,website www.gn.apc.org/opfs).
Mental health
Children in Scotland is holding a conference on:
* Developing an education and training strategy for child psychotherapy services in Scotland, in association with the Scottish Institute of Human Relations, on 6 September in Stirling.
Contact Children in Scotland, as above.
The School of Infant Mental Health offers integrated educational and training programmes for professionals working with children under five. It is starting a new fortnightly lecture series for nursery teachers on 6 October. Topics include:
* Early signs of dyslexia and how to help in the nursery.
* Accommodating the neuro-developmentally delayed child.
* Understanding the development of walking, speaking and thinking.
* Early interventions that help the outcome of early difficulties in the nursery.
* Understanding regressive behaviour as a possible precursor to rapid growth.
* Early pointers of attention deficit disorders.
* Early pointers of autistic behaviour and how to help it in the nursery.
* Early interventions with the lone child and the family.
* Increasing the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic home visits.
* Understanding complex emotions in infants: Exploring jealousy.
* Dealing with separation anxiety in the nursery.
The School also runs a number of courses, with some of the training over intensive weekends, including:
* Foundation course: An overview of theories on the development of emotions in children and parents, and a preview of diploma courses.
* Diploma in infant mental health: For those working with infants and young children who wish to acquire an understanding of infant mental health through video and research.
* Readiness programme: A certificate-level course designed for home visitors and staff. The programme teaches all aspects of effective interventions - the process, setting, visit, follow-up,stress, dynamics, and outcomes.
* Diploma in parent-infant psychotherapy. A two-year, part-time clinical training course in parent-infant psychotherapy.
* Infant observation seminars. This is a certificate-level course offered alongside diploma programmes which allows participants to realise how families actually work, coping with difficulties and crises, and the persistence of infantile behaviour in later life.
A short course is planned on:
* Early trauma and how to intervene, on 17 July.
Contact the School of Infant Mental Health, 27 Frognal, London NW3 6AR (020 7467 8453, fax 020 7433 3112, e-mail SIMH2000@aol.com).
Montessori
Harlequin Montessori Nursery is running a:
* Montessori parents/carers course for all those interested in understanding its approach to childcare and education, including how a nursery session is organised and run and how the environment is achieved.
* It also runs taster courses on one Saturday or two evenings.
Contact Mary Ishmael, Harlequin Montessori Nursery, Billericay, Essex CM12 9LH (01277 633223).
The Montessori Centre International runs seminars on many topics.
Contact Montessori Centre International, as above.
Pre-school provision
Common Threads courses are run throughout the year as part of its annual training programme. It runs in-house training courses (its trainers come to you), accredited training courses, annual training programmes and tailor-made training. Courses include:
* Induction courses,covering playwork basics.
* Playwork NVQs, one-off workshops covering underpinning knowledge; play and playwork; diversity, values and attitudes, a positive approach to behaviour; child protection; health and safety leading teams; administering and promoting provision; developing community relations; recording; planning trips and residentials; working with parents and carers. Also a 12-month flexible training and assessment programme for the complete award; as well as levels 2 and 3.
Contact Common Threads Consultancy, as above.
The Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (CACHE) runs a number of courses with the Pre-School Learning Alliance including:
* CACHE Diploma in pre-school practice. Framework qualification for pre-school and playgroup leaders and deputies, with classroom sessions and an open learning format.
* CACHE Certificate in pre-school practice: framework qualification for pre-school and playgroup assistants at Levels 2 and 3.
* CACHE introduction to pre-school practice. This is the first course in the qualification route for pre-school and playgroup assistants.
Contact CACHE, as above or the Pre-School Learning Alliance, 69 Kings Cross Road, London WC1X 9LL to find out your nearest regional centre (020 7833 0991, fax 020 7837 4942, e-mail pla@pre-school.org.uk,website www.pre-school.org.uk).
CACHE also runs:
* The CACHE Level 2 certificate in playwork, a nationally-recognised qualification based on the Take Ten for Play model.
* NVQs in playwork.
Contact CACHE, as above.
The Playgroup Network has worked with CACHE and the Northern Council for Further Education to create courses to meet the needs of those working in early years. Programmes include:
* Introductory courses providing underpinning knowledge for NVQ levels 2 and 3 in early years care and education, such as CACHE diploma in pre-school practice, NCFE certificate in playgroup practice, and NCFE advanced certificate in playgroup practice.
Other courses include:
* Preparing for Ofsted.
* The early learning goals.
* Special needs.
* Equal opportunities.
* Playgroup administration.
* Committee work.
* Health and safety.
* Creative play * Working with toddlers * Parenting skills.
Contact Playgroup Network, PO Box 84, Middlesbrough TS7 OXT (0191 230 5520, e-mail playgroup network@playgroup.fsnet.co.uk,website playgroup-network.org.uk).
The Pre-School Learning Alliance is holding its national conference from 2 to 4 November in Derby.
Contact the Pre-School Learning Alliance, 69 Kings Cross Road, London WC1X 9LL (020 7833 0991, fax 020 7837 4942, e-mail pla@pre-school.org.uk,website www.pre-school.org.uk).
Violence
A report by the Gulbenkian Foundation on why children become violent, and the extent of violence to and by children, found that while research cannot identify causes of violence beyond doubt, there are a number of risk factors which interact to increase the chances of an individual becoming violent. The most powerful risk factors lie in childhood and within the family. They include violent and humiliating forms of discipline, attitudes in the home and the world outside which seem to approve of violence, and poverty and poor living conditions. The best predictor of violence in adulthood is violent behaviour in childhood, but it is never inevitable that an individual child will become violent for evidence has shown that, given support by parents and others, even high-risk children can be prevented from becoming violent.
The Forum on Children and Violence was founded following the Gulbenkian Foundation report. It aims to promote an understanding of why children become violent and ways of preventing violence, and to promote non-violence in all aspects of children's lives. The Forum works with schools to build violence prevention into all aspects of school life, including behaviour policies, anti-bullying policies and special needs policies. It also builds violence prevention into parenting programmes, early years care and education, works with local authorities to promote community safety initiatives, and holds conferences on violence prevention.
Contact Will McMahon, The Forum on Children and Violence, National Children's Bureau, 8 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7QE (020 7843 6309, fax 020 7843 6087, e-mail wmcmahon@ncb. org.uk, website www.ncb.org.uk).
