Policy makers, stakeholders, academics and business leaders from across Europe recently attended an international conference in Bratislava, Slovakia. This conference was about the fostering and development of talent and was the key event in the field of education within the framework of the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU. 

The aim of the conference was to create a platform for professional discussion focusing on current issues and problems of talent support with an emphasis on education and training.  The conference also offered an opportunity to spread awareness of the need and potential for development of talent and to profile views and attitudes to the topic not only within academia, but also among a wide range of professional and public bodies at a European level.  Dr Margaret Sutherland, Depute Director, CR&DALL was invited speak about her work in relation to talent development in the early years. Margaret shared current developments within early years education in Scotland and spoke of the work that she and Dr Niamh Stack, School of Psychology, have been involved in with the Scottish Network for Able Pupils.