Why 'Minding the Gap'?
Considerable cuts by Government to Local Authority budgets have resulted in a dramatic reduction in the support available to Registered Childminders and other early years settings. Many Local Authorities used to offer regular CPD events such as conferences, often free or heavily subsidised. Budget and staff cuts have seen such events virtually disappear, with the availability of training opportunities reduced and face to face courses increasingly difficult to access. These reductions come at a time when there have been extensive changes in legislation and other requirements which affect early years providers. Although Local Authorities are working hard to mitigate these issues, financial constraints have made this a difficult task and it is becoming more and more the responsibility of individual settings to seek out their own training. Rebecca Martland (Children at Heart Registered Childminder, Early Years Training and Consultancy) and Alison Featherbe (Orange Caterpillar) met with members of the Worthing Childminding Association, 'Magic Minders' in the spring of 2016 to discuss how they might be able to support Childminders and other childcarers to access CPD and from the first 'Minding the Gap' conference was born.
Originally conceived as a conference dedicated to Registered Childminders it soon became apparent that other early years practitioners were also struggling to access high quality, affordable professional development. Consequently the programme was extended ensure the conferences are relevant to and open to all Early Years practitioners. Although our settings may differ in size our ultimate aim of ensuring the best possible outcomes for all the children in our care is the same.
Originally conceived as a conference dedicated to Registered Childminders it soon became apparent that other early years practitioners were also struggling to access high quality, affordable professional development. Consequently the programme was extended ensure the conferences are relevant to and open to all Early Years practitioners. Although our settings may differ in size our ultimate aim of ensuring the best possible outcomes for all the children in our care is the same.
Minding the Gap Conferences
Minding the Gap 2017
This conference took place on Saturday 25th March 2017 at the University of Brighton with the aim of providing a unique, affordable conference for Childminders and all Early Years Childcarers. The feedback to date has been overwhelmingly positive and we would like to thank everyone who attended for their support, encouragement and enthusiasm which has enabled us to feel brave enough to embark on a repeat performance.
Minding the Gap 2018
28th April 2018, University of Brighton
Sponsored by childcare.co.uk, the theme of Minding the Gap 2018 is, 'ensuring the well-being of every child', and this will be reflected in the workshop choices and the vital research on the subject of 'professional love' being led by our morning keynote speaker, Dr Jools Page.