Professor Robert Winston headlines ECE conference

Media statement

Professor Robert Winston headlines early childhood education conference

Embargoed until 5.00am Friday 11 July 2014.

Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/NZ Childcare Association have science royalty in their midst for their 51st Annual Conference, 11-13 July 2014 in Auckland.

Delegates are in for are a special treat this year, Chief Executive, Nancy Bell says.

“The early childhood education (ECE) sector are abuzz with the fact that Professor Robert Winston will be delivering a keynote address specifically to them. We have delegates coming from all around New Zealand, excited to have the opportunity to hear and meet him.”

Professor Winston will deliver a keynote address entitled ‘How do humans learn?’ Delegates are looking forward to hearing the science behind how children learn using all their senses, and new emerging evidence around the role of epigenetics in learning. Following the keynote address Professor Winston will engage less formally with delegates in a discussion extending on his keynote.

Delegates will hear seven keynote speakers and over 40 workshops with a mix of researched-based theory, and practical advice that ECE teachers can apply directly in their centres.

“We’re extremely proud of the informative and stimulating programme we’ve managed to put together for the ECE sector this year,” says Ms Bell.

ENDS

For further information contact Martin Švehla on 027 340 6099.

Please note that Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa / New Zealand Childcare Association should be cited in full in the first instance and can then be abbreviated to NZCA.

About Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/NZ Childcare Association (NZCA)

NZCA represents around 600 early childhood education (ECE) services, providing education and care to thousands of infants, toddlers and young children. Established in 1963, NZCA has a long history of improving standards of practice in New Zealand’s early childhood education sector.

NOTES FOR MEDIA

• Conference programme details can be found on www.nzca.ac.nz/conference.

• The conference theme is: Every child – strong in identity, learning and succeeding. Ia tamaiti – he pakari ā-tuakiri, ā-ako, e eke panuku ana

• The conference runs for 2.5 days from 11-13 July 2014 and has over 300 people from the Early Childhood Education sector attending.

• Further information on Professor Winston can be found at www.robertwinston.org.uk.

Keynotes and Political Panel

o Professor Robert Winston, Imperial College, London. (How do Human’s Learn?)

o Associate Professor Damon Salesa, Centre for Pacific Studies, The University of Auckland (A Pacific Genealogy: Growing Pacific Children in New Zealand)

o Associate Professor and Associate Dean Margie Hohepa, Māori of the Faculty of Education, University of Waikato (Pakari ā-tuakiri hei whāngai i te pā harakeke: Strengthening identity, nurturing whanau)

o Carol Hartley, Head Teacher, Mangere Bridge Kindergarten (Successful border crossing: three stories)

o Barbara Ala’alatoa MNZM, Principal, Sylvia Park Primary School

o Emma Ritzema-Bain, Mangere Bridge School

o Hon. Hekia Parata, Minister of Education

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