Conference Application Forms

Please find links at the bottom of this page to enable you to download your application forms for Conference 2010. Forms may be printed and photocopied but each Portage professional person applying for a place at Conference must complete a separate Professional Application form. Each Family applying must complete a Family Application form.

Conference will be held on 24th, 25th & 26th September 2010.

This year Conference will focus on The Principles of Portage with seminars and keynote presentations that will be informative and thought provoking.

The NPA Board of Trustees and the Conference Planning Team are working on a programme that includes three Keynote Presentations and a range of seminars and workshops. These will range from practical, hands on sessions to information sharing opportunities focusing on current topics and issues that are of interest to both parents, carers and professionals. There will also be a wide range of exhibitions and trade stands to view so delegates will be both engaged and entertained. Conference is also the time to catch up with friends of long standing as well as providing opportunities to make new friends and contacts.

The NPA Annual Conference is an event open to parents and carers, Portage personnel, early years practitioners from the public, voluntary and private sector, Area SENCOs, Sure Start personnel, health professionals, social service early years teams, family support services, disability and learning organisations, Early Support Programme staff, family key workers, in fact, anyone involved in the wide range of early years provision.

The NPA Conference Planning Team works very closely with the conference venue staff. This year we will be using the Hilton and Marriott Hotels, Northampton. The Hilton is used as the main conference venue with the Marriott providing extra bed and breakfast accommodation. All families attending conference are offered ground floor rooms in the Hilton, where the creche rooms are also sited.

The Hilton Hotel it situated just off Junction 15 of the M1 motorway and is approximately 5 miles from the centre of Northampton. The Marriott Hotel is just 2 miles further along the road towards the town centre.

Accommodation at both the Hilton and the Marriott Hotels is excellent and although delegates may not spend very long in their rooms, it is an important part of the weekend to be in pleasant and comfortable surroundings. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, colour television and tea / coffee making facilities. Both hotels have indoor swimming pools, which can be used by delegates throughout the weekend. There are some single rooms available, but most of the accommodation has two double beds and so sharing with a friend or colleague ensures places can be given to the maximum number of people. Agreeing to share a room does not mean sharing a bed. Also, no one will be asked to share a room with a complete stranger. Please be aware, however, that if you are unable to accept the place offered to you and it is taken by another member of your Service, that person will be expected to accept the same accommodation arrangements.

Successful applicants for places will be notified by post in July 2010. Prior to Conference each delegate will receive a Conference Programme giving information about the weekend, including a timetable, seminar options and comprehensive travel details.

Children attending Conference are offered a place in one of three professionally staffed creches. Places are allocated according to age and/or need. Qualified and experienced creche workers staff each creche. Creches will be open for three sessions during the weekend and are free of charge. Prior to Conference families will be sent a questionnaire to complete for each of their children attending Conference. This information is invaluable to the Creche Organiser and her team and helps to ensure that the needs of each child are met.

A Baby Patrol system will be available on Friday and Saturday evening to offer parents and carers the opportunity to join in with the social aspect of conference. Further details will be given when places are allocated.

I am sure Conference 2010 will be an informative and enjoyable weekend and I, the Conference Planning Team and the NPA Board of Trustees look forward to welcoming you to the weekend.

The terms and conditions for booking places are as follows:

• A non-refundable deposit of £50 per adult and £10 per paying child is required.
• Invoices can be issued to facilitate payments of the total cost of each place.
• Second invoices issued to a different name and / or address will be subject to a charge of £5 per invoice.
• Full payment should be received within 30 days of the date of the invoice.
• If places are cancelled up to 30 days prior to the weekend, the payment, minus the deposit will be returned.
• In the event of a place being cancelled less than 30 days before the event, there will be no refund, unless the place is taken up by someone else.  In this instance the original payment, minus the deposit, will be refunded.

 

For further information please download the following;

• Conference 2010 Family Application Form
• Conference 2010 Professional Application Form