Programme

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Updated 04/12/20. All details are provisional. More information will be added when available.

10:00

Opening

Prof Nick Pearce, EIF chair of trustees

10:05

Welcome from EIF

Dr Jo Casebourne, chief executive, EIF

10:20

The power of early intervention

Hear from those who have first-hand experience of early intervention and its impact

Jade Batten, health visitor and FNP graduate, and Jezima Zahir, Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) parent, in conversation with Sharon Kemp, chief executive, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

10:50

Evidence, decision-making and effective early intervention

Expert perspectives on the value of an evidence-led approach

Prof Paul Ramchandani, LEGO professor of play in education, development and learning, University of Cambridge, in conversation with Sally Burlington, head of policy, Local Government Association

11:20

Break

11:30

Shadow minister keynote

Tulip Siddiq MP, shadow minister for children and early years

11:45

Breakout sessions

Panel discussions on two key issues, including evidence, policy and plenty of opportunities for questions and debate

  • Breakout 1: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): What we do and don’t know, and what next
    What does the ACEs literature actually tell us about their impact on childhood and later life outcomes? How should we consider racism as part of the debate on ACEs, particularly focusing on children who are Black and from ethnic minority groups? Are we searching for overly-simplistic solutions to complex problems? What are the myths that have emerged around ACEs?  Does the evidence support current practice? How should policy and practice respond, particularly considering the impact of Covid-19 on vulnerable children and families?
    Kelly Beaver, managing director of public affairs, Ipsos MORI (chair); Dr Kirsten Asmussen, head of what works, child development, EIF; Dan Johnson, Scottish chair, Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health; Laurelle Brown, principal consultant, Laurelle Brown Consultancy Services; Dr Vashti Berry, director, Children & Young People’s Mental Health Research Collaboration
  • Breakout 2: Disadvantage in the early years: The role of speech and language in closing the disadvantage gap
    What works to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children in the early years? What is the role of speech and language support in closing the disadvantage gap, and how do we ensure practice recognises diverse needs of different communities? What does current policy and practice look like? What action is needed to close the disadvantage gap? Given the impact of Covid-19 on widening the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers, how should speech and language practice respond?
    Prof Paul Ramchandani, LEGO professor of play in education, development and learning (chair); Tom McBride, director of evidence, EIF; Prof Courtenay Norbury, professor of developmental language and communication disorders, UCL; Sheena Carr, deputy head of children, young people & families, Public Health England; Debbie Chase, director of public health, Southampton City Council
12:45

Lunch

14:00

Breakout sessions

Panel discussions on two key issues, including evidence, policy and plenty of opportunities for questions and debate

  • Breakout 3: Grit, character and resilience: How social and emotional skills support children’s attainment, mental health and wellbeing, and behaviour
    What is ‘social and emotional learning’, and what does the evidence tell us about its benefits? How do schools support children’s social and emotional development, and how might this change in response to the impact of Covid-19 on children’s wellbeing? How are youth services and other out-of-school settings using the evidence on social and emotional learning to inform how they support children’s wellbeing, and how can we encourage a wider use of this evidence?

    Jean Gross CBE, independent consultant and writer (chair); Dr Aleisha Clarke, head of what works, child mental health & wellbeing, EIF; Bethia McNeil, chief executive, Centre for Youth Impact; Emma Lewis, head, Heathmere Primary School; Prof Robin Banerjee, professor of developmental psychology, University of Sussex
  • Breakout 4: Youth crime and violence: What do we know about what works?
    How can agencies work together to use the evidence on youth crime and violence? Why is there a gap between what we know works to prevent youth crime and violence, and what is currently being delivered? What action is needed to address that gap? How does evidence generation need to adapt and improve to address racial disproportionality across youth crime and violence outcomes?
    Reshard Auladin, non-executive director, National Crime Agency (chair); Peter Babudu, head of research and youth understanding, Youth Endowment Fund; Christine Geeson, head of localities and partnerships, Suffolk County Council; Prof Manuel Eisner, Wolfson professor of criminology, University of Cambridge; Rachel Coffey, head of serious violence priority projects, UK Home Office
15:00

Coffee break

15:10

Ministerial keynote

Vicky Ford MP, minister for children and families

15:25

Plenary panel discussion: Putting early intervention at the heart of a children’s agenda

What action is needed to progress the early intervention agenda particularly in light of current challenges? What wider system and policy changes are needed to realise its potential?
Prof Nick Pearce, EIF chair of trustees (chair); Donna Molloy, director of policy and practice, EIF; Jenny Coles, president, Association of Directors of Children’s Services; David Simmonds MP, education select committee; Kaya Comer-Schwartz, deputy leader, executive member for children & families, Islington Council; Michelle Lee-Izu, corporate director of development and innovation, Barnardo’s

16:40

Closing remarks

Prof Nick Pearce, EIF chair of trustees

16:45

End

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Early Intervention Foundation

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