Early Years Education

This is an exciting new edition of a core text that draws on a range of interwoven themes within the field of early childhood studies, clearly showing how these themes are reflected and played out in different contexts.

The topic of play is fundamental to understanding how children grow and learn. Play in Early Childhood Education Second Edition is an essential introduction to the theories behind this play and how it relates to children's development and learning. It enables students and educators to understand the complex learning theories, professional practice and selected government policies that focus on children's play and early learning. This user-friendly text also tackles the rapidly changing contexts where children are raised and educated, demonstrating diverse approaches to play-based learning and considering new insights and possibilities.Features: Includes a wide range of real life case examples; teaching examples; and reflections covering the birth to 8 years age range to illustrate theory in practiceExpert author team of early childhood academicsCross-cultural contexts - examines the power of play in facilitating young children's development and learning in many diverse contexts including Australia, Cambodia, Finland, Tanzania, Singapore and Hong Kong. New to this edition: Revised to take account of recent significant national policy changes in early childhood in Australia (and in other selected countries) which focus on the interpretation and implementation of Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standard - students will see direct links between play and these policy documents.Chapters have been re-organised and re-named to better match course content and to assist students' navigation, and understanding of key topic areas, including: developing early childhood curriculumassessing children including the use of learning storiesinquiry based learningICT and its use with young childrenfacilitating leadership in young childrenworking with infants and toddlersplay

This book shows early years settings how to set up the 'Talk for Writing' approach and how to involve parents, carers and other family members.

This best-selling book has been completely revised to provide a fully up-to-date guide on observation and assessment. Packed with examples of observation techniques, and documented examples, this is the only book students will need to build the skills required by the professional childcare practitioner.

Are you a new SENCO? Are you a busy SENCO juggling your SEN role with your existing job? Could you use some time-saving ideas and practical advice? Starting with a look at the role and responsibilities of a SENCO, this book covers different areas of the job from supporting children and colleagues to working with parents and outside agencies.

This book provides brief biographies of 20 key pioneers in education and critical insights into their work. Imagined conversations between these key figures help readers understand the concepts and how developments in the past have led to present thinking and practice.

This book meets the needs of a diverse workforce by offering tried and tested examples of practice and case studies of experience as well as providing an accessible summary of research into the learning and development of young children

Comprehensive guide to reflective practice for students and practitioners in the child care sector.

An accessible text exploring child development. Includes detailed development charts and notes on practice and the wider context. Essential reading for child development modules.

This book helps early years students and practitioners gain an understanding of issues relating to children's health, examining possible ways in which health can impact upon young children's early childhood education and care.

Making schemas understandable to those working with or looking after young children, this book describes schematic behaviours with case studies and provides ideas of how to use this information to extend children's learning and development.

This fully updated expanded book explains how to use the Mosaic approach, a practice that instils the importance of listening to children's life experiences. It shows how to use it in a variety of settings, outlines the future directions of the approach, offers case studies and also covers working with vulnerable children.

Comprehensive and fully up to date coverage of course content with an overview of current issues and approaches in Early Childhood Studies.

The foundation stage has a fundamental role in the laying of foundations for children's learning. In this new edition, the author uses a wide range of material, including research evidence, to offer an additional dimension to work currently taking place in the foundation stage.

By offering practitioners working in a variety of early years settings the opportunity to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills, this book builds on the increased government interest in and support for early years provision.

This work covers aspects of young children's development in terms of a broad curriculum, and is aimed at students of early childhood care and education.

Designed to be of help to all trainee and qualified teachers working within the Foundation Stage, this title should help to identify strengths and areas for further development. A mixture of theory and practical tasks should help you to attain QTS, and develop your skills as a practitioner.

Why is it that, when children play, some behave like butterflies,flitting around among the flowers of the activities on offer, landingfor a moment before moving on to the next attractive flower (activity)while others behave with the single minded concentration of bees?

An easy-to-read and practical guide for early years professionals on how to discuss gender diversity and sexuality with very young children, looking at ways to include new practice while extending successful current practice.

Teachers are currently faced with a dilemma - does ICT in the classroom benefit young children or does it cause them to develop into anti-social adults with poor communication skills? Mark O'Hara looks at the pros and cons of ICT and shows how it can be used to excellent effect in the classroom.

This must-have text bears in mind the various pathways to achieve EYTS and includes leadership activities to carry out within the role, making it an ideal resource for trainees to take them through their course straight into practice.

This book takes a genuine theory and practice approach and looks at the main areas of global early years curricula, dedicating a chapter to each. It also includes discussion of key elements of early years education such as play, assessment and SEND.

This is a clear, comprehensive, systematic and practical guide to achieving Early Years Teacher Status and meeting the EYT Standards and requirements.

Stories play a crucial role in young children's social and literacy development. This guide gives professionals the skills to plan and run the best possible storytelling and reading sessions for children, from how to use props and voices, to how to cater for mixed ability learning groups. Includes stories, rhymes and activities for ages 2-5.

There's a lack of training for practitioners supporting toddlers at what is a very pivotal age for development. This book fills this gap as the go-to guide for improving toddlers' mental and physical development by providing strategies and tools to support toddlers' overall wellbeing. Includes case studies/examples of good practice across Europe.

A textbook that promotes thoughtful engagement with key issues and theories that inform an understanding of childhood development. It intends to turn readers away from our collective tendency to simplify the experiences of young children and replace this with an understanding of the social dynamic that constitutes childhood.

Describes how children learn and develop best in good Early Years practice. This work encourages the practitioner to focus on the child, and shows how to create the sound beginnings that every child needs to flourish and develop in the early years. It is useful for reflective practitioners in the Early Years.

Investigates the key issues in early years education. This title provides a blend of real life examples and theory, and examines how children explore, express and represent their worlds. It also looks at adults learning something new and considers the similarities and differences that might exist between them and children.

The most important consideration in early education is the way in which young children learn. Their transferable skills of communication, collaboration and investigation can underpin various aspects of learning. This book focuses on these elements in a group of pre-schools in an area of Northern Italy.

Parents and carers of young children will find a relaxing dayful of gentle play for babies and toddlers in this full colour picture songbook. Eight double-spread pictures tell baby's day from start to finish - waking, dressing, going out, in the park, bathtime, massage and bedtime.

Based on high-quality pedagogy and developed for the use of teaching staff and managers, the Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being (SSTEW) Scale can be used alongside other environment scales (including ECERS-E, ECERS-R or ITERS-R) to give a more complete picture of what high-quality early childhood education and care can look like.

This new edition integrates leadership and management practice with a real understanding of early years settings.

The books incorporate the views of a wide range of people with a wealth of experience in the early years field as both practitioners and trainers. They are intended as an accessible, informative and challenging resource for all those involved in the care and education of children under three.

Working with the under threes places a special responsibility on adults to both recognise and respond appropriately to their changing needs. This book focuses on adults working with children in a range of contexts. It explores opportunities which allow adults to respond children's needs, with reference to the development of child's self concept.

This popular text explores all the major themes in early years education and care, providing a real insight into the changing world of Early Childhood.

Provides a strong foundation of knowledge about aspects of Early Years education, by summarising the current status and outlying paths of development for now and the future.

This resource for beginning teachers of young children provides practical, sensitive, and diverse advice on getting children settled, mealtimes, toileting, and beginning and ending of sessions.

This text offers a rationale for the popular idea among teachers and researchers that young children should be taught critical thinking and argument in the early years of their education.

Considers the implications for practice of the 'Every Child Matters' (ECM) agenda for working with children, analysing the key issues from the perspective of the different professions that make up the 'new children's workforce'. This book includes practice issues and case examples from health, education, social work, and playwork.

Discusses about becoming a stronger person. This title links directly to the Government's Birth to Three Matters Framework (DfES 2002).

Young Children Learning

A guide to communication, language and literacy in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) that promotes a holistic approach with examples of good practice. It is suitable for trainee and qualified early years professionals.

A critical overview of key issues and areas within early years for those training or working in the sector, focused on policy and practice.