NCMA conference report
This year a larger contingency than normal attended the NCMA Conference. This was due to the generosity of Notts EYDCP, The City Childcare Development Team, Funding from Nottinghamshire Community Foundation through the BME Project and from Awards For All
Nottingham and County Childminding Association also played their part in bringing everyone together, booking hotel rooms etc.
The Conference was held over 2 days but with a welcome reception and drinks for the many childminders who arrived on Friday evening. (The exibition of stalls was also open and some of us spent a lot of money on resources that we struggled to fit in our suitcases!)
Saturday started with keynote speeches from Penelope Leach, Dorian Bradley -Director of Early Years at Ofsted, Jane Hayward- Chief Exec of Childrens Workforce Development Council and Graham Walton who was hilarious as he regaled us with tales of what it was like during the birth of his all girl sextuplets 23 years ago
There were a variety of workshops after all of this with lunch slotted in between
Later that evening was the conference dinner where we all got together and did some dancing and generally had a good time.
On Sunday was the debating session and Nottinghamshire was well represented during the session as several childminders from our area joined in the debate
A resolution asking Ofsted to remove the phrase 'No Complaints have been made against this childminder since the last inspection' was put forward by NCMA Board Member Sarah Edwards who is Chair of NCCMA
The Conference closed with a demonstration of skills by Liverpool Girls football team
We recommend that any childminder who is interested in attending the next NCMA Conference let us know. We will start to apply for funding for next years Conference which will be held in Torquay. We can’t guarantee we will be able to get funding but we will try!!
Alternatively try to raise funding through your groups. This year groups were awarded funding for Conference by Awards for all (Retford Group) and Nottinghamshire Community Foundation (NCCMA BME Project). We will do our best to help you if you are interested. It is never too early to start planning!
