Welcome back! Sorry about the long silence, but let’s start with a quick roundup of what’s been going on and what’s coming up:

Daycare Trust Conference

Before Christmas Aspect spoke at the Daycare Trust annual conference. It was a very illuminating day, during which the Daycare Trust launched some excellent and very thought-provoking research analysing and highlighting the true costs entailed in ensuring access to and the provision of high quality education and care from birth to five. More details are here:

• A summary of the Daycare Trust’s research
• Polly Toynbee chaired the morning of the event (during which I spoke on behalf of Aspect) and also wrote an article in the Guardian.
• Daycare Trust, 17 Nov 2009

Campaigning on climate change

Aspect joined thousands of other unions, environmental organisations, campaigning bodies, families and individuals at the “Wave” march through London on 5 December. Since then of course we have had all the drama of Copenhagen! However, despite what many people feel to be a disappointing outcome from the Copenhagen talks organisations across the country – and across the globe – will continue campaigning.

Aspect too is setting up its own network for members interested in actively fighting for action on climate justice. Keep your eyes open for more details.

Joint Aspect/GTC event

All of you who are Aspect EYP members will have been invited to this event before Christmas. You’ll be glad to hear it went very well with excellent feedback from participants, and agreement from the CWDC to work with us to fund and support similar events in the future should they be useful and helpful.

Again, keep your eyes peeled for the report and outputs from that.

That brings us up to date pretty well … so just a couple of dates for your diary now!

Nursery World Show 22 & 23 January

Friday 22 and Saturday 23 January (so tomorrow and the next day) – Aspect will be at the Nursery World Show running free workshops and with a stand with goodies to eat and nice people to chat to, as well as all sorts of useful literature. Do come and find us.

More details on registering for the show at: www.nurseryworldshow.com

EYP National Committee

Next week is the EYP National Committee, on Thursday 28 January, in London. Any members who have particular issues you’d like your National Committee to discuss – please let us know as soon as possible.

So you’re up to speed on Aspect events! Please do also let us have your views on important developments in the wider early years sector in the last few weeks. We’ll pick up on some of that soon.