About this event:

We’re excited to invite you to a special event hosted by Thrive at Five, in collaboration with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and the Family Hubs. This free, one-day conference brings together all those who care about and are working to give every child the best start in life. Within the event, we'll be focusing on the key themes of early language and communication and parent and carer engagement.

Alongside presentations from local colleagues, we will welcome a fantastic line-up of guest speakers including: Christina McKean, Professor of Child Language Development and Disorders at Oxford University; Dr Kate Jones, Senior Lecturer in Education at Teesside University; and Rob Newton, Local Evidence Lead, who will share key insights from Early Talk for York - a local area approach to improving speech, language and communication skills in children aged 0–5.

What to expect:

Inspiring keynote speakers

Best practice forums

Expert information stalls from health, education, social care, and community organisations

Networking opportunities and collaborative discussions

Together, we’ll explore how to help children grow up happy, healthy, and ready to learn.

Who should attend?
We welcome everyone working with or supporting families and young children, including:

Early years professionals

Health visitors and midwives

Social care practitioners

Family Hub staff

Community organisations

Volunteers and parent connectors

School staff and education leaders

General information

Registration will open from 9:00am, with the conference starting at 9:30am. Free parking is available on-site. Lunch will be provided.

Happy, healthy, and ready to learn: Early years conference