Sunderland College held their third Childcare Conference recently to enable students to understand how gaining professional development from outside agencies is part of their role as Early Years Practitioners.
This year’s annual Childcare Conference was bigger than previous years, taking place throughout the whole day.
Professionals were in attendance from various organisations such as Together for Children, Sunderland University, and Book Trust North, making this year’s event the biggest yet.
Students were given the opportunity to engage in sessions around promoting Wellbeing through Play and Storytelling, The Role of the Early Years Practitioner, First Look Phonics, and Safer Internet Day Stories: Fern’s Online Mistake, Transient art and the holistic child and The Art of Observation.
The event was supported by other professionals such as the NHS Health Visitors and school nurses, Relax Kids, The Rainbow Family Hub, BBC Tiny Happy People, Directions students and internal staff delivered different workshops.
An Education and Early Years student who attended the event, said: “The event was great as we were able to learn about things that can be used in practice, which we can build on from our course.
“A takeaway from this event would be that I now know that there are many different pathways for the course that we are studying, and I look forward to progressing.”
Helen Wallace, Lecturer and Programme Leader in Education, Children and Families added: “It was great to have such a high volume of professionals come together to work with one another, providing students with opportunities to gain knowledge and insight they would not otherwise be exposed to.
“It has been a resounding success yet again.”
The event worked as a carousal giving students rich experiences which will no doubt help inform their next steps, but also enabled professionals to come together and connect, making for important working relationships in the future.
Students were able to attend 30-minute interactive workshops delivered by different external agencies to help them gain new skills and learn more about the role of multiagency working.
Students engaged with professionals and remained involved with the different sessions throughout the day – casting aside insecurities and coming together to demonstrate how they might teach an element of phonics. It was a real showcase of passion for their chosen field and commitment to learning.
Victoria Davis, Industry Placement Officer at Sunderland College, who also delivered one of the sessions, added: “The conference was very well organised and very smooth. An opportunity not just for students to experience lots of different professions and professionals showcasing the fantastic work they do for children and the sector, but an opportunity to inspire and motivate the next generation of the Early Years workforce through interactive workshops, informative sessions and invaluable insights.
“It was an absolutely brilliant opportunity; I was very lucky and honoured to be part of it.”
Sunderland College, as part of college group EPNE, receives an Outstanding rating across the board in its latest Ofsted inspection.
November 26, 2024
Sunderland College and Sunderland Culture worked together in partnership with students to showcase their creative talents at an exhibition.
November 21, 2025
EPNE recently hosted a vital roundtable discussion on workplace practices for employees living with precancerous conditions or cancer.
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98% of our students progress to a positive destination
(*Destination data for Sunderland College students aged 16-18, academic year 2017/18).
Our achievement rates are well above the national average.
We are the College of the Year.
(*Top college nationally for BTECs, Pearson 2019)
100% of our HND and HNC students progressed to employment or further study.
(*Destination data, academic year 2016/17, HNC 19+)
We have recently invested £50 million in our facilities.
