This one day online conference will focus on priorities for early years education following the publication of the updated EYFS Framework, which is due to be made statutory this September, and what is needed for transitioning to a wider roll-out of the new framework.

The event will provide an opportunity for delegates to consider case studies and best practice in raising standards in the sector following the COVID-19 pandemic, managing the return to in-person inspections of early years settings, as well as wider priorities for early years staff, looking in particular at training, recruitment, retention, and workload.

The keynote address will be from Susie Owen, Director, Early Years and Schools Group, Department for Education; as well as from Michael Freeston, Director of Quality Services, Early Years Alliance.

The agenda will bring out latest thinking on:
• next steps for early learning in England in the wake of the pandemic
• the reformed EYFS framework - transitioning to wider roll-out, the impact on literacy and numeracy reception readiness, best practice in implementation, and managing workload and assessments
• case studies in raising standards in the early years sector post-pandemic:
     ◦ supporting early learning and mental health recovery amongst vulnerable children
     ◦ using local partnerships to level up early years provision
     ◦ facilitating seamless transition into primary learning
• inspecting early years settings - and supporting providers to get back up to speed and to raise standards
• priorities for early years staff - training and professional development, improving recruitment and retention, and ways to ease workload.

This online event will include:
• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates after the event
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• networking opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact.

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference.