The Conference aim is to inspire you so that you go back to your settings and your work, enthused to improve the quality of the playwork being delivered either through the direct provision of services for children and young people, through the training of playworkers or the development of local and national strategies.

The Conference takes place over the two days Tuesday 2nd March 2010 and Wednesday 3rd March 2010. Each day is distinct in that which it offers. The Tuesday is very much about play and playwork and as always there will be some innovative approaches!. The Wednesday is more about the delivery of playwork qualifications, playwork education and training programmes at all levels.

There is no communal key note speech, but there will be opportunities to attend 45 minute key presentations.

This Conference originated as the Playwork SVQ and NVQ Conference and still is the only major national [England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland] Conference that is specifically aimed at all those in the sector who are working to improve the skills of the workforce [in other words – all of us!] How does this Conference fit with the NVQ & SVQ and other playwork qualifications? Well, quite simply, the qualifications are about playwork, and if playwork is about enabling and supporting children’s play, we all need to have as great an understanding about play and the role of the adult as is possible.

There will be ‘sessions’ to attend, a range of ‘round table’ facilitated discussions, a play zone, a web zone, a chill out and chat zone, a walk though picture zone and plenty of exhibitors to talk to.

The ‘sessions’ take place on Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon and will include presentations, workshops, debates and experiential experiences! The sessions vary in length from 45 minutes to 2½ hours and there will be up to ten to choose from at any one time.

The ‘ROUND TABLES’, on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, work in a fluid and flexible way. You can go to any table you wish, you can stay for as long or as little as you wish. Each table has a facilitator who has enough input to keep the discussions lively and changing.

The idea of a ‘ROUND TABLES’ discussion is that the table is facilitated, by a skilled facilitator. There will possibly be up to twenty people sitting around the table. The facilitator will make presentations and input on the subject that their table is about and respond to points raised by participants. The idea is that participants will gain more knowledge and understanding about the subject area of the table, but people will stay at the tables for different amounts of time. So there’s going to be a flux of people going into the table and out of the table, the facilitator has to be able to keep a conversation, a debate and dialogue moving forwards with possibly recaps but being careful not to bore people who are staying on for more. And the facilitator needs to be in a position to make a number of inputs during the ‘ROUND TABLES’ session to keep things moving.

The 1st Annual Playwork Awards will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30pm, More details about these awards can be found in the awards section of this site.