EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE.

Organised by the Royal National Institute for the Blind at County Hall, Cardiff. Speakers include: Professor Tina Bruce, early childhood specialist and author; and Margie Whalley, director, research development and training base, Pen Green Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire. It will consider the issues involved when pre-school groups include children with serious sight problems.

Fee: pound;70 professionals, pound;20 parents or students. Details: 01222 668606.

APRIL 7-9.

CONNECTING GEOGRAPHY Organised by the Geographical Association at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Speakers include: Roger Carter, GA president, and Clare Short MP, secretary of state for international development. Topics include: geography and literacy; city links, curriculum links; global citizenship and sustainable development; geography and technology at key stage 3; the new geography AAS levels; and evaluating Internet sites for classroom use. Free admission. A small fee is payable for fieldwork visits. Details: 0114 296 0088.

APRIL 8-9.

HOME EDUCATION.

Organised by HE2K-Plus at Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1, for home educators, academics and anyone interested in how children learn. Speakers include: John Gatto, internationally-renowned for his critique of formal education; Professor Ted Wragg, Exeter University; and Dr Alan Thomas, visiting fellow, London Institute of Education, and author of Educating Children at Home. Fee: pound;20 home educators, pound;25 others; pound;5 extra at the door. Details: 0171 681 2609; freephone 0800 018 1579; e-mail: conference@he2k-plus.co.uk APRIL 8-11.

LEARNING IN HARMONY.

International conference organised at Warwick University for interested professionals and parents by Society for Effective Affective Learning.

Speakers include: Paul Scheele (USA), developer of the Photoreading Whole Mind System; Professor John MacBeath, Strathclyde University, on unlocking the secrets of the thinking brain; and Olga Samarova, professor of language training, Moscow University, on creating balance in the language classroom.

Fee: pound;360, pound;295 members. Accommodation packages available.

Details: 01225 466244; e-mail: seal@soceal.demon.co.uk APRIL 12-16.

SHARING RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

Organised by and held at Warwick University. Speakers include: Professor Carol Keyes, Pace University, New York; and Dr Anne Meade, director, New Zealand Council for Educational Research. Fee: pound;380-pound;440 residential; pound;210 non-res; day rates available. Details: Donna Jay, 01203 523800.

APRIL 13-16.

CULTURE, HEALTH AND THE ARTS WORLD.

More than 20 countries will be represented at this symposium at Manchester Metropolitan University. Speakers include: Lord Attenborough, president of Arts for Health, UK; and Chris Smith MP, secretary of state for culture, media and sport. Fee: pound;400, pound;90 accompanying person; daily rate pound;100. Accommodation available. Details: James Arthur, 01625 624091; e-mail: james.arthur@cmc.co.uk.