"Meeting the Challenge" Supporting Children's Relationships

Kildare County Childcare Committee Professionals Development Conference

“Meeting the Challenge”

Supporting Children's Relationships

“Relationships are at the very heart of early learning and development. “

(Aistear Guidelines for Good Practice; NCCA 2009 pg. 27)

Would you like to know more about how adults can respect children as individuals?

Would you like to know more about how to shape children’s relationships to support children's learning and development?

BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW

Killashee House Hotel on Saturday 17th October 2015 from 10.00am to 4.30pm

Fee: €15 per participant - includes lunch and refreshments.

Conference Programme

This Conference will focus on the Aistear theme of Communicating.

“The theme of Communicating is about children sharing their experiences, thoughts, ideas, and feelings with others with growing confidence and competence in a variety of ways and for a variety of purposes.” (Aistear Principles and themes; p34).

Our Key Note speaker will be Dr. David Carey. David is the author of The Essential Guide to Special Education in Ireland and is on the editorial board of REACH, the journal of the Irish Association of Special Education Teachers. David is a regular contributor to Newstalk 106 - 108fm and is a psychologist with over 25 years’ experience in both clinical and educational settings. For many years David worked in both out-patient and in-patient mental health services. In Ireland David has been associated with the Froebel College of Education where he created several post-graduate training programmes for special education teachers, including a Master’s Degree in Special Needs. David has been a trainer of teachers all over Ireland and has spoken to numerous parent and professional groups.

Other speakers;

Dr Geraldine French is a specialist in early childhood education and is Programme Co-ordinator / Lecturer in Early Childhood Education in St Patricks College, Drumcondra. She has published in the areas of parenting and the experience of poverty amongst families with very young children in addition to quality professional practice in early childhood settings and supporting early language, literacy and numeracy. Some of her publications include “Supporting Quality: Guidelines for Professional Practice in Early Childhood Services (3rd edition), Book I and 2, Barnardos Training and Resources Service (2009). Geraldine’s most recent publication “Early Speech and Language Matters: Enriching the communication environment and language development in early childhood.” Barnardos Training and Resource Service, 2013.

Dr. Mary Moloney is a Lecturer in Early Childhood Care and Education in Mary Immaculate College Limerick. Mary has worked in the Early Childhood Care and Education sector since 1992. Her interest in ECCE is strongly influenced by international perspectives that have been shaped by research visits to Denmark; Norway; Slovenia and, the renowned early education centre, Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Italy. Mary was co-author of many publications including; “Towards a Framework for Action for the Inclusion of Children with Special Educational Needs in Early Childhood Settings” 2011, “Special Educational Needs and Early Childhood Practitioners in an Irish Context (Book Chapter) in Diversity, Special Needs and Inclusion in Early Years Education” (Sophia Dimitriadi, Ed) 2015 and “Voice and Choice School Aged Childcare Curriculum Framework” 2009.

In addition to our keynote speakers workshops will be held on

Supporting Interactions in Early Childhood; Facilitated by Colette Saunders

Reflective Practice for Early Years Services; Facilitated by Heino Schonfeld

Creating a Supportive Environment for School Aged Childcare; Facilitated by Sandra Loftus

“The moment by moment interactions of adults and young children are crucial to the healthy emotional development of the child. Having a trusting, consistent, supportive, reliable relationship with the primary carers in a child’s life provides them with the essential experiences to go forth to explore the physical and social world.”

Once in a Lifetime; French and Murphy 2005