22 September: Home-based childcare conference, Stirling - A look at the circumstances in which sitter services can be helpful and the operational issues involved in running flexible services in the Scottish registration system. Contact: 01382 513 933, www.opfs.org.uk

22-23 September: First European conference on child and adolescentmental health in educational settings, Paris - A forum to sharepractice, research, ideas and experiences. Contact: 020 7447 3829,events@tavi-port.org

23-24 September: The NAS international conference 2005: meeting thechallenge of autism, London - An opportunity to share expertise, hearspeakers talk about research and developments and to learn about bestpractice. Contact: 020 8334 6517, www.nas2005.org.uk

25 September: NAS day for autism, London - Events from autistic artistsand craftsmen, as well as stalls from the National Autistic Society andother organisations. Contact: 020 7833 2299, www.nas.org.uk

26 September: Integrating agendas and pooling budgets for unitedchildren's services, London - This Children Now conference will provideinsights, practical case studies and pragmatic solutions for theessential task of pooling budgets in children's services. Contact:020 8267 4011, www.pooledbudgets.com

27 September: Emotionally literate children and families, Edinburgh -Exploring the whole community approach to sound achievement, positivebehaviour and emotional wellbeing for all. Contact: 01452 741 106,www.schoolofemotional-literacy.com

27 September: Inspecting integrated children's services, London - Anopportunity to hear representatives from pilot JAR authorities and toaid in the development of multi-agency practices. Contact:020 7954 3435, www.cpd.info/inspecting

TRAINING

22-23 September: Supervision within family placement, London - Thiscourse is for supervising social workers and their managers to helpsocial workers in family placement teams. Contact: 020 7620 6400,www.fostering.net

23 September: Calling all employers, Bristol - One of five seminars onthe new opportunities for employer-supported childcare. Contact:020 7840 3350, msevic@daycaretrust.org.uk

23 September: Communicating with children, London - A course toascertain children's wishes and feelings and explore recent theoreticaldevelopments. Contact: 01372 818 504, nagalro@globalnet.co.uk

26 September: Creating safety: child protection and youth arts, London -For anyone working with young people and the arts. It will cover currentchild protection legislation. Contact: 023 8063 0960www.artswork.org.uk

26 September: Working with autistic spectrum disorders in schools,London - Insights into the needs of children with autistic spectrumdisorders and how to meet their needs in a variety of educationalsettings. Contact: 0845 225 4071, www.ican.org.uk

27 September: Play policy and strategy, London - This seminar willexamine why authorities need to develop play policies and strategies. Itwill also explore why many direct resources into inferior playopportunities. Contact: 07946 527 264 karen@playlink.org.uk

27-28 September: Emotional support and learning - a course for learningmentors, London - For mentors supporting pupils whose emotionaldifficulties are impeding their academic learning. It will cover issuessuch as the relationship between emotional and cognitive development.Contact: 020 7336 8445, www.youngminds.org.uk/autumntrainingdays.