Investing in our future, investing in young people This conference by 4Children, in partnership with the Sure Start Unit, brings together Government departments, youth justice, health, education and youth services to look at the findings of the research done on behalf of the Sure Start Unit.
The Barbican, central London. 10am to 3.15pm. Contact Claire Pentin on 020 7522 6920 or e-mail Claire.pentin@kidsclub.org.uk.
3 April
Grammar in the nursery
Participants on this course by Training in Early Years Education will consider the relevance of introducing grammar exercises to the young child.
A range of grammar games for the pre-literate child will be introduced, with students encouraged to devise and share their own ideas for activities, and there will be presentations of Montessori grammar materials, supplemented with students' suggestions for further activities.
The Bar Convent Conference Centre, York. Cost 52. 10am to 4.30 pm.
Contact Maggie Tait on 01759 302638.
5 April
Working with fathers
At the heart of this conference by Fathers Direct are 15 three-hour forums, organised in association with the lead organisations in specialist fields.
The sessions address the challenges faced by frontline workers in everyday life. Speakers include trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt, minister for children Margaret Hodge, and broadcaster John Peel.
Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1. Cost 120 to Pounds 350. 9am to 5pm. Contact Profile Productions on 020 8832 7301 or e-mail info@profileproductions.co.uk.
6 April
Listening to young children
Coram Family is holding this one-day open access course to help practitioners improve their listening competencies and provide opportunities for children aged under eight in the planning, delivery and evaluation of policies and services relevant to them. The training is based on the Listening to Young Children resource.
Coram Family Community Campus, London. Cost 300. Contact Jane Gebbett at Coram Family on 020 7520 0357 or e-mail janeg@coram.org.uk.
Vision 2004
Organised by the Royal National Institute for the Blind, this exhibition offers people who have sight problems, their families and carers advice, products and publications on every aspect of employment. There will be two free workshops for blind and partially sighted children on music and art, and the opportunity to take part in a live fundraising event.
Kensington Town Hall, London. Admission free. Contact the Vision 2004 hotline on 020 7391 2315 or visit the website www.rnib.org.uk/vision2004exhibition.
8 April
Healthy childhoods and their relationship with well-being Organised by the Early Childhood Centre, University of Surrey Roehampton, this the last in a series of eight seminars offering a multidisciplinary forum in which issues and dilemmas experienced by early years practitioners can be discussed in a national and global context. Helen Penn, professor of Early Childhood Studies at the University of East London, will speak on 'Unequal childhoods: The lives of children in poor countries'.
University of Surrey Roehampton, London. Cost 20 or free for student cardholders. Contact by e-mail CPD@roehampton.ac.uk.
