Conference 2010 roundup
The 2010 NCMA Conference got off to a great start this
weekend when Dave Benson Phillips (pictured right) took to the
stage amid big cheers from the audience. It may have been first
thing on Saturday morning, but his passion for entertaining
children shone through. Along with his guitar, he soon got everyone
involved in his ideas for sharing music and rhyme.
Taking place in the lovely surroundings of The Royal Marriott in
Bristol on Friday, 12 and Saturday, 13 November 2010, the event was
a chance for NCMA members from across England and Wales to come
together and celebrate the work that registered childminders and
nannies do.
It was Susanna Dawson’s last conference as NCMA Chair before
stepping down next year, and she welcomed delegates to the
conference, outlining how much she valued the opportunity to meet
up with fellow registered childminders. Susanna also read a message
from NCMA President Dame Gillian Pugh, who was unable to attend on
the day. Gillian praised the professionalism of NCMA members, and
spoke of the strength of NCMA being in the united voice of its
members.
The middle part of the day was a chance for delegates to attend
two professional development workshops, with a choice that included
yoga and relaxation techniques; bringing book sharing to life;
singing and song inspiration; creative ideas; and online
safety.
In the afternoon, NCMA's Joint Chief Executive Catherine
Farrell, spoke of the new political landscape bringing
opportunities and challenges in equal measure. She emphasised that
NCMA will be working hard to do all it can to ensure we don’t lose
the ground we’ve gained with local authority partners, as well as
building on the support we offer to members directly.
The business part of the day concluded with the Annual Policy
Debate, where delegates discussed and voted on the resolutions
proposed. Following some interesting and informative discussions,
all the resolutions were carried.
The conference was capped off with a dinner dance where
delegates dressed up, got their party shoes on and danced to “Man!
I Feel Like a Woman!" by Shania Twain, and many more hits. Photos
from the dinner dance, can be viewed
and purchased here.