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I received my copy of Nursery World today and with it was a leaflet with information and a booking form for a conference in London in March called "Implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage".

I thought it would be interesting and that perhaps our local pre-school network could fund it and I would report back to all groups in the area at a meeting. At first glance the cost is £468.83- a lot of money I know but probably worth it. Then to my amazement when I looked more closely this price is for the public sector-the private sector are being charged £703.83!!!!!! Talk about inequality!

What I want to know is why does it cost more for somebody from the private sector to attend and why £235 more??? The blurb states that early years providers who should attend are nursery managers, pre-school managers, childminding network managers and primary school headteachers. Do they really think that nursery and pre-school managers can afford that amount-£463 is probably out of their reach as it is.

I am about to fire off an email to the company involved, Emap plc, to ask them why there is a difference in cost and why by such a huge amount.

Linda

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Quite right too Linda - send them a link to this topic as well!

 

I've never been able to understand the price differential thing although it seems pretty universal. I suppose when you're talking about big business organisations they could be perceived as 'richer' than the state sector, but when you're talking about pre-school settings, either private or voluntary, it's almost certainly the opposite way around.

 

Maybe we should organise our own. :)

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I agree with you Susan-why is it these conferences have to cost so much? I know it is usually private enterprise that puts them on but how on earth do they think anybody can afford that sort of amount? It also suggests that local authority staff should attend-eg Sure Start managers. I suppose they would attend and then use the information for settings.

I just don't understand why there should be a differential between private and public sectors when we are all going to have implement the EYFS. And certainly not such a vast amount.

The fact is this would cost me about £850 in total as I would need to factor in the cost of travel, probably an overnight stay in a London hotel (not cheap) because it starts at 9.30am, and cover for the time I would need to take off work.

I will do as you have suggested Steve and link to this. Hopefully I will get a reply-should be interesting to see what they have to say!

Linda

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An Ofsted inspector told me earlier this week that there is an EYFS conference in Birmingham somewhere during March? I haven't seen any publicity for it, has anyone else?

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I got excited when I saw the leaflet too, and then had two thoughts:

* someone else at work will think that it's more important for them to go

* how much is this going to cost?

 

I was flabbergasted at the cost - I know conferences are expensive as speakers don't come cheap and they have to be put up in hotels and fed and watered etc, but this is ridiculous!

 

Maybe we should organise our own. :)

 

The thought had crossed my mind too.... it wouldn't be that hard, would it (there isn't a tongue in cheek smiley :o )

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:o

I would just wait for our local LEAs to roll out the training. I know they are hoping to receive the actual documents in March and will be sorting out training for everyone else once it is digested but like everything it takes time . Perhaps it could be claimed through the transformation fund but I think it is way to high when we will get the training later on for free.

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As a private owner I would certainly find the content of the conference beneficial information for business planning. It is ironic that one workshop is about sustainability when the cost is equivalent to a months salary ( for me anyway).

How on earth could a childminder afford to attend. :o

It is aimed at LA's and training providers but when this training / information is cascaded down to settings, the people actually implimenting the EYFS it is so watered down that the training just becomes awarness raising and often something that can be researched yourself ( given the time).

 

The government should fund these conferences as it is they who require the changes.

 

Peggy

 

 

 

I have sent the following email to emap

 

Dear emap,

I would have liked the opportunity to attend the London conference on the new EYFS, unfortunately I am excluded due to the high cost of the event.

 

Best regards,

 

Peggy Minter

Foundation Years Preschool

Proprietor

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I couldn't agree more Peggy. My thoughts were that if I could attend this conference I would have some first hand knowledge of what was going to happen in the future and give some feedback to other pre-schools in the area. And not the watered down version as you say, that we will get via the local authorities.

I would be interested to know the statistics for attendees to this conference-I bet there will be very few private sector representatives there.

I know that £468 is a lot of money too, but at least our network would have been able to afford that.

Linda

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Good points made, Peggy!

I agree completely - the government are introducing yet MORE changes. Therefore, it should be funded directly by them.

 

It is true that the main representation at this event will be from the public sector and the private sector should not be so blatantly excluded.

 

Do you think that the intention is that private sectors should be using the transformation fund to attend this conference??

 

If the conference is directed at LA's then why would they post such a huge amount of flyers via Nursery World??? Strange!!

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