This year's Early Years and Primary Teaching Exhibition in Manchester was as popular as ever. More than 6,000 teachers and childcarers flooded into the G-Mex Centre during the two-day event on16 and 17 May.
Seminars were packed. A record-breaking 130 people attended Penny Tassoni's 'Emergent writing in the Foundation Stage' on Friday. Other big draws were Jennie Lindon's 'A positive approach to the behaviour of young children', Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton on 'Creating a child-centred environment - lessons from Reggio Emilia' and the science workshop run by Mindstretchers'
Claire Warden.
Visitors made the most of the 130 stands with the chance to buy books, resources and equipment at discount prices. Puppets by Post was one of the busiest stands, and Nursery World was inundated with people buying the magazine at a special show price.
Childminders Susan Myerscough and Susan Cottier from Keighley, West Yorkshire, were visiting the exhibition for the fourth time. 'We enjoy it every time we come,' they said.
Newcomers included Village Green Products, a company designing environmentally friendly playhouses, castles and screens from corrugated card for children aged three to six. Geoff Banks, its sales and marketing director, said, 'A lot of toys these days are too commercialised. We wanted to inspire children to create.'
The Mouse Club was there to launch its magical Mouse Island CD-Rom, which offers children challenging puzzles to develop their maths skills. The company's representative said, 'A lot of effort goes into the music and animation so children are engaged. We try to bridge the gap between home and school.'
Author Rachel Sparks Linfield was at the A & C Black stand for the launch of Foundations activity packs. She wrote two of the books in the series, Colours and Opposites.
'Dr Mark's Magical Science Workshop' offered fun experiments, clever tricks and think-of-a number problems to interest children in maths and science.
Dr Mark Biddiss of ProEducation said, 'Young children are so keen. They want to try everything.'
