'Too much too soon?', held in London on 16 February, had as its opening speaker Lilian Katz, Professor Emerita of Early Childhood Education, University of Illinois.
The other speakers were Dr Dominic Wyse, senior lecturer in primary and early years education at the University of Cambridge; research psychologist Dr Penelope Leach; and Sue Palmer, a primary education consultant and author of Toxic Childhood. A televised message of support was also sent by Australian family therapist Steve Biddulph.
Open EYE is calling for an urgent independent review of the EYFS and for Government to reduce the statutory status of its learning and development requirements to 'professional guidelines'.
Campaign leader and early years specialist Margaret Edgington said, 'The campaign is amazing. In the short space of time - since December - 5,000 people have signed up to our campaign and the number is going up every day.'
She said that the Open EYE petition was 'ongoing' and that the campaigners were planning to organise another conference and meet with Barry Sheerman, chairman of the House of Commons Education and Skills select committee.
More information on the campaign is available at www.savechildhood.org.