Early Intervention and Learning Conference

08:45 - 09:30  

Registration, welcome refreshments and marketplace

09:30 - 09:45

Welcome - Karla Capstick, Programme Director, Small Steps Big Changes

Best Start for Speech, Language and Communication:  Enhancing Life for Children

This morning's sessions will delve into the importance of focusing on speech, language, and communication (SLC) during the early years and explore effective strategies for supporting parents in fostering language development. We will review how SSBC-commissioned activities have enriched the evidence base regarding effective methods for enhancing early SLC, drawing on both academic research and practical insights. The morning will conclude with a presentation summarising a decade of "test and learn" experiences, offering valuable reflections to guide the development of strategic and operational priorities aimed at improving children's lives.

09:45 - 10:30

Opening Keynote:  What's new in early language? - Jean Gross CBE

In this session Jean will share fascinating new research on early language. Can technology replace a human communication partner? Should we use ‘baby talk’? What do we know about using rhymes and songs? Why has sharing books with children been called the ‘rocket fuel of early language development’? The session will be practical, leaving you with lots of ideas for how best to interact with children and encourage parents and carers to support language development.

10:30 - 11:20

Lessons Learned:  Effective Strategies for Enhancing SLC

Conor Monk, National Literacy Trust, Clare Wood, Nottingham Trent University, Amy Burton, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.  Session chaired by Karla Capstick, Programme Director, SSBC

This session will include lightning presentation sessions that highlight how SSBC-commissioned activities have built upon and enhanced the existing evidence base for effective communication strategies. We will explore what works to support speech, language, and communication, focusing on fostering engagement with diverse families through various activities. Insights will be shared from both academic research and practical service delivery perspectives, showcasing how to effectively support SLC development in early childhood.

11:20 - 11:40 Refreshment break and marketplace

11:40 - 12:25

Insights and Reflections:  Key Takeaways from our SSBC Journey - Natalia Wroblewska, Senior Project Officer, SSBC and Clare Wood, Nottingham Trent University

The morning will conclude with a presentation and reflections from a decade of “test and learn” initiatives. Attendees will gain insights into the thematic findings from the SSBC evaluation conducted by Nottingham Trent University, focusing on speech, language, and communication outcomes across the SSBC programme. This will include discussions on the added value of the initiatives and potential future opportunities. As SSBC planned funding draws to a close, the session will also address strategic actions that can sustain and build upon SSBC activities and learning, ensuring that system-wide efforts continue to prioritise giving children the best start in speech, language and communication.

12:25 - 13:15 Lunch

Rethinking Prevention and Early Intervention in Family Support

The foundation for good social and emotional health in babies and children is established during early childhood. It is well-documented that responsive parenting and good parental mental health is crucial for supporting children's social and emotional development. This afternoon will explore the insights gained from innovative SSBC-commissioned projects that have provided support to families. We will emphasise the importance of trusted relationships within families and between families and professionals. The discussion will be framed within the context of heightened needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of living crisis, and workforce challenges. Together, we will consider whether there are alternative approaches to achieving our goals.

13:15 - 14:00

Keynote:  Relationships:  The Magic Ingredient in Prevention and Early Intervention - Sally Hogg

This session will address the importance of early relationships between parents and their babies and how these are a critical ingredient in early development. It will also discuss the power of relationships between parents and practitioners, and between practitioners in local systems. Sally hopes to convince the audience that relationships are the magic ingredient that we need to focus on when designing, or redesigning effective support for families.

14:00 - 15:00

Supporting Families, what works?

Rachel Harding, Nottingham Trent University, Dr Lisa Common, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wendy Shaw, SSBC. Session chaired by Donna Sherratt, Head of Programme, SSBC

In this panel discussion, we will explore key learnings from two innovative services that have provided early support to families through a Mentor model. We will examine what these models reveal about effective strategies for supporting families and fostering strong foundations for their babies and children. This conversation will prompt us to reconsider who provides support and how it is offered to families. Additionally, we will discuss key insights that can be replicated across existing services to enhance family support and improve outcomes for children.

15:00 - 15:20 Refreshment break and marketplace

15:20 - 15:50

Case Study of Healthy Little Minds - Elayne Walker, Nottingham City Council and Anna Iskander-Reynolds, Centre for Mental Health

Case Study of Healthy Little Minds: Supporting Infant Mental Health by Enhancing Parent/Infant Relationships. This session will cover key learning from the SSBC-commissioned Parent and Infant Relationship team.

16:00 - 16:05 Closing Remarks

16:05 - 17:00 Reception and launch of Small Steps Big Changes legacy film

Join us for a drink as we launch the Small Steps Big Changes legacy film. Capturing a decade of activity from the Small Steps Big Changes, A Better Start partnership programme, this video brings together services and service users to tell the story of SSBC, its achievements and impact across Nottingham and its communities.

08:45 - 09:15 

Registration, welcome refreshments and marketplace

09:15 - 09:25

Welcome - Karla Capstick, Programme Director, Small Steps Big Changes

Reducing Public Health Inequalities in Early Years

Future health and wellbeing are rooted in early childhood. Significant inequalities exist in young children’s health, with disparities evident between families in the most deprived areas compared to those in the least deprived, and among different ethnic groups. This morning’s sessions will present lessons learned from SSBC-commissioned projects aimed at reducing these inequalities. In addition to project insights, the session will emphasise the benefits of adopting father inclusive practices and the role of coproduction in enhancing efforts to improve public health outcomes.

09:35 - 10:05 Keynote - to be announced

10:05 - 10:30

Stay One Step Ahead:  An Effective and Cost-effective Way to Improve Home Safety - Denise Kendrick, University of Nottingham

Stay One Step Ahead (SOSA) is an evidence-based home safety programme delivered by health visitors, family mentors and children’s centres. This presentation will describe the intervention, present quantitative data on its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness and qualitative data exploring how the SOSA programme worked.

10:30 - 11.30 

Father Inclusive Practice - Has This Been a Missing Ingredient?

Mutsa Makaka, Shifting Your Mindset, Felicity Callon, SSBC, Shanine Fasasi, Diversify Education and Communities CIC.  This session is chaired by Anna Tarrant

This panel discussion will highlight the added value of Father Inclusive Practice in enhancing public health outcomes for children. Participants will receive practical advice on effective strategies for engaging with fathers and will explore potential changes within the system to become more father-inclusive.

11:30 - 11:50 Refreshment break and marketplace

11:50 - 12:50

Starting Early:  Doing Things Differently to Impact Nutrition Outcomes

Nelly Araujo, Royal Society for Public Health, Lynn McGuinness, Nottingham CityCare Partnership, Sam Mackay, Apteligen, Rachel Harding, Nottingham Trent University, Alison Poxon, SSBC.  This session is chaired by Amy McDonald, SSBC.

Speakers will provide insights into the lessons learned from SSBC-commissioned activities that support parents and families in giving children the best nutritional start. We will hear how evidence-informed practices are making a tangible difference to families locally, and how the programme's "test and learn" ethos informs project delivery and continuous learning. Additionally, we will reflect on what more could be done to further reduce nutritional inequalities and enhance outcomes for all families.

12:50 - 13:40 Lunch

Harnessing the Power of Communities and Coproduction

Community life, social connections, and having a voice in local decisions significantly impact health and wellbeing. The final afternoon of the SSBC conference will reflect on our experiences from working with communities, including SSBC Parent Champions, their contributions to the SSBC partnership, and their role in improving family outcomes. We will explore the mutual benefits of partnership working, both now and in the future for community groups, parents and wider partners. This session will highlight how The National Lottery Community Fund's core principles—collaboration, coproduction, and asset-based approaches—have been implemented locally. We will discuss how to support the legacy of successful coproduction across the five ABS sites to enhance outcomes for babies, children, and families moving forward.

13:40 - 14:25 Virtual Keynote:  Communities at the Heart of Public Service Reform - Professor Donna Hall, CBE

This session will explore the current state of public services and the need to place local people at the heart of transformation. Public service reform needs to be implemented with the buy-in of the public and learning from their experiences. Donna will explore the Wigan Deal experience as well as real life examples from Gateshead and elsewhere.

14:25 - 14:55

Key Findings from the SSBC Ideas Fund Evaluation - David Waterfall 

Building on assets and strengths within the community, this session will present learning from the SSBC Ideas Fund, a community-based commissioning approach to small grant funding.

14:55 - 15:15 Refreshment break and marketplace

15:15 - 16:00

Panel Discussion:  Communities and Coproduction

Ekua Ghansah, Nottingham Child Friendly City, Scott Hignett, The National Lottery Community Fund, Melkorka Stiller-Magnusdottir, SSBC Parent Champion, Donna Sherratt, SSBC.  This session is chaired by Karla Capstick, Programme Director, SSBC

This panel discussion will offer insights into the impacts of coproduction on services and families, identifying the key ingredients for successful coproduction. We will present local and national examples and critically examine whether coproduction always adds value. Additionally, we will share practical tips on how to amplify the voices of children and families in service delivery.

16:00 - 16:15 Closing Remarks - Karla Capstick, Programme Director, SSBC and Mark Purviss, Deputy Director, The National Lottery Community Fund