As I write, a panel of experts is sitting on the platform and talking about social mobility and early years learning.

This is a bit of a difference from how policy making usually works. Although the experts have their place in our traditional policy making process, normally through submissions in the drafting process and holding together a policy working group. But by the time we debate those papers at conference, the mix of people who speak sometimes includes – how can I phrase this delicately – those who are not experts in the field. Sometimes, however, those inexpert voices provide a real world perspective that can otherwise be absent.

There are pros and cons in both approaches. It would be foolish to allow debate to happen in the complete absence of real experts. But it is also dangerous to let them dominate all debate as policy moves away from the political and towards the hegemonic in any given field. Much of what I have heard today about early years is pretty familiar to me from similar discussions with, erm, one of Nottingham’s Labour MPs, who has driven Nottingham to having a real focus on early intervention, much as the experts on our panel seemed to want.

The social mobility debate at conference wasn’t making final policy but highlighting an ongoing process of getting the party to answer the question “What is we do to help those parents who want something better for their kids than they had?” That process began in January with Nick Clegg establishing a Social Mobility Commission and continued in these pages with an article from one of the experts. The process continues, and welcomes all points of view in formulating their opinions, so whether you’re an expert or a lay person, do share your views.