Our Stoke Speaks Out conference was held on Friday 6th November at the Quality Hotel, Stoke-on-Trent. Over 200 delegates attended from a variety of settings across the City, and a number of delegates also attended from different authorities.

The day started with an Introduction from Janet Cooper, who introduced the first key note speaker, Elizabeth Jarman from Communication Friendly Spaces. This was followed by Amanda Heath from the Potteries Museuem and Art Gallery. Four workshops were available for delegates to attend during the morning and afternoon; the outdoors, story telling, children with special needs and nurture.

The City Songbirds entertained delegates after lunch, and the City Music and Performing Arts Service provided a fun, interative session to end the day which got everyone on their feet!

An awards ceremony was held with Rob Johnstone to close the event, which awarded four settings who had recently acheived their Stoke Speaks Out Level 4 'Communication Friendly Award':

• Gladstone Primary School
• St John's (CE) Primary School
• Kemball School
• Abbey Hill School

Four local school high school children who took part in a competition to write a story book for the Stoke Speaks Out Family Fun Packs were also awarded during the ceremony.

Some feedback from delegates who attended the conference can be seen below (unfortunately we can't list it all!):

• "Had a lot of fun! Can't wait until the next conference"
• "Very good day, I took back lots of ideas to use in my setting"
• "Stoke Speaks Out is a really good resource to the City"
• "Fantastic day, thoroughly enjoyed it"
• "Infectious enthusiam"
• "Thanks for an inspirational day"
• "I thought the whole day was excellent and I have got so much to reflect on... it was first rate. Well done"
• "Fantastic, I think this is one of the best conferences I have been to!"
• "Well done you've done it again, what a fab informative day. Great way of getting message across, you just keep going from strength to strength"

Thank you to everyone who attended the conference and to everyone who helped make it such a success. We hope to see you again next year!

Photos from the day and handouts given out to delegates are to be uploaded shortly....