There are many reasons why people attend conferences and training as delegates. It may be that you are attending because of a particular interest, or see it as a means of professional development, or both. It might be that you have been sent by your manager, and sometimes because you have had to substitute for a colleague at short notice.
Whatever your reason, you can make sure that you and your setting get the most out of the experience.
Selecting the right event
Many local areas have excellent training programmes that you can access.
There are also a host of regional and national events to choose from. When you or your manager are selecting suitable events, the following could be taken into account:
* The expertise and prior experience of the delegate
* Any previous training and professional development
* Any good practice that the setting wants to develop
* The personal and professional development needs of the delegate
* How this learning or skill development may subsequently benefit the setting
* Whether the training is part of an overall plan for development within the setting
* Whether this learning and skill development would be more effective if learned in some other way, for example as a team.
How to prepare
You need to make sure that you have access to any information that has been supplied prior to the event. This could include venue details and contact numbers, a map, timetables and a description of the event, along with aims and objectives for the day.
Some courses may also require you to do some reading or a preparatory task.
Think about relevant good practice that you might want to share, any difficulties you are having or questions you want to ask.
Check if there is a budget for any books or resources you might want to buy. If you are going with a colleague, arrange to meet them beforehand, as at a larger conference it may take time to locate them.
Plan your travel in advance and allow as much time as possible. There is nothing more unsettling than having to burst breathlessly into an event after it has started and missing key information.
Refreshments are usually provided, so let the organiser know beforehand if you have special dietary requirements. Also inform the organiser in advance if you have additional needs to take into consideration, such as hearing or visual impairment.
You should take pen and paper in case these are not supplied, and a bag that will be big enough to hold any papers or items that you are likely to collect. You might want to bring your own contact details and some information about your service that you can share with other participants.
What to wear
There is no specific dress code for conferences and training. Gone are the days when everyone seemed to turn up in suits and dresses. But for early years practitioners these events may be a welcome opportunity to wear smarter clothes or express your personality. Bear the following points in mind when choosing what to wear:
* You are an ambassador for your service
* You may need to travel and you will probably be spending much of the day sitting down, so wear something relatively crumple-and crease-resistant
* You need to be comfortable as well as presentable
* If you overdo the glamour or an unusual style you may feel conspicuous
* Heating systems vary in venues, so layers are a useful way of making sure you will not be too hot or cold.
Ways to gain information
At the event
Keep your delegate pack safe, as it is your passport to the day.
You will usually be provided with handouts and other information, but conference speakers and trainers can often provide a written version of their presentation on request if it is not already available.
If you came with a colleague, try to meet other people too. Networking is an important aspect of attending events, and many lasting and productive working relationships have started in this way. If your delegate pack contains an attendance list, scan it to see if there is anybody you know or would like to meet.
Sharing practice with colleagues is a good way to celebrate what is good about your service and find new ways of addressing any gaps or difficulties.
Confidentiality is an important issue, so try not to name names. Criticise and evaluate systems and policies, rather than individuals.
There is usually no need to write down everything a speaker or presenter says -indeed, this may mean you are not paying attention to the meaning and implications of the presentation or activity. Get to know yourself as a learner and hone your note-taking skills so you can write down what is important and not already contained in your handouts or pack.
If there is an interactive element to the event, be ready to join in.
Remember, others may be feeling nervous too.
If there is an evaluation form in your pack, do not fill it in at lunch time or even earlier, as many people do. You cannot evaluate your experience of the day until it has happened. Evaluation forms are important feedback for the organisers and presenters but they can also help you put the day in perspective, particularly if you are feeling 'swamped' by information and wondering how to prioritise the feedback you give to your setting.
Before you leave, make sure you collect your certificate of attendance if one is available.
After the event
How you disseminate information and learning to colleagues depends on the event's topic and aims and objectives. There is a big difference between relaying factual information or a practical skill, and trying to effect a change in attitude or policy.
It can be disheartening when you come back brimful of new ideas and ready to change the world, only to find that your colleagues have had the same old day and do not want to listen. Your colleagues may not see the need for changes to policy and adjustment to practice. Your pack or handouts may be useful here and you can forward items of interest or important information to individual colleagues.
Discuss with your manager and colleagues how you might best communicate issues and transfer skills. General discussion, perhaps at a staff meeting, is a good way to start. If you have been given any visual material, case studies or scenarios, they may stimulate debate.
Not everybody feels confident in presenting to a formal group, and there are other ways of sharing information. These include the circulation of handouts and the review of relevant principles and policies or writing a report. Find a way that suits you as an individual and make sure that the information you circulate is not distorted or inaccurate.
Think about who could benefit from your training or conference, including parents. You may need time to reflect on your learning first. Sometimes it can take a week or so before learning is properly understood and assimilated, but don't leave it so long that you have forgotten what it was all about.
Ask for support if you are nervous or unsure. Use opportunities to develop and practice your own presentation skills. Many expensive cascade programmes have fallen down at this point because the above issues have not been properly taken into account.
And finally
Remember that it is the children and families we serve that ultimately benefit from a professional, up to date and reflective workforce.
Furthering professional development through attendance at conferences and training is an important way of achieving good practice - and it can be fun too.
Mary Dickins is an independent early years consultant who runs workshops on training and presentation skills. She can be contacted at marydickins@btinternet.com
Top tips
* Select your training and conferences carefully
* Arrive on time and plan to stay for as much of the day as possible
* Prepare well and bring the right information
* Circulate at lunch and tea breaks (however shy you are, this is the only way to meet new colleagues and acquaintances)
* Recognise that the end of the event is also the beginning of the changes you can make as a result.
