Early Childhood Studies: Enhancing Employability and Professional Practice explores essential aspects of best practice within children's services in order to enhance employability skills, identifying how and why key aspects of best practice have emerged within children's services. The key elements of professional practice at the centre of the multidisciplinary work in today's children's services are considered, including: * different childhoods; * child development; * enhanced learning; * professional skills; * inclusion; * holistic practice. Each chapter draws together practical teaching experience with sound academic analysis to support those training to work in the early childhood sector, and those already practising, to raise their employability potential by identifying and evaluating best practice.

This book explores the impact of neoliberalism on education in the UK. Drawing on policies across the sector in England as a case study, the author illuminates and analyses the development of neoliberal policy on models of practice. The author explores the theory and philosophy that have come to define neoliberalism, and offers an explanation as to how this has been applied to the education sector in England at various different stages. Informed and scaffolded by years of empirical research in educational contexts, this book interrogates the impact of neoliberalism on educational practice. It will be of interest and value to scholars of neoliberalism and education, as well as practitioners.

Early Childhood Studies: A Social Science Perspective explores key issues in early childhood studies from a variety of social science disciplines, including psychology, sociology, social policy and education. Each chapter considers a different social science discipline, identifying, analysing and critically assessing how that particular discipline enriches early years provision and research. User-friendly student features are included throughout, including: - Icebreakers introduce the main chapter themes - Objectives help readers to develop cognitive skills, moving from identifying to analysing to critically assessing - Formative activities encourage practical application of the content - Case-studies ground theory in practice - Research activities support those looking to take their understanding further - Self-assessment questions allow readers to test their knowledge - Further reading references and web links provide ideas for further exploration An essential course companion for all Early Childhood Studies undergraduate students.

This book explores the impact of neoliberalism on education in the UK. Drawing on policies across the sector in England as a case study, the author illuminates and analyses the development of neoliberal policy on models of practice. The author explores the theory and philosophy that have come to define neoliberalism, and offers an explanation as to how this has been applied to the education sector in England at various different stages. Informed and scaffolded by years of empirical research in educational contexts, this book interrogates the impact of neoliberalism on educational practice. It will be of interest and value to scholars of neoliberalism and education, as well as practitioners.

Sociology can help students understand why and how so many of the problems their service users face occur in the first place, helping them choose effective ways to communicate and make informed decisions on how their needs can be fully met. This book offers students a framework to explore how their professional responsibility to understanding sociology can be realised in every aspect of their work with a diverse range of service user groups including children and families, adults, older people, people with learning disabilities and people suffering from mental distress. The book takes students step-by-step through the theoretical grounding, what sociology is, how it is relevant to everyday social work practice, and what are the key aspects of sociological theory that need to be understood.

Early Childhood Studies: Enhancing Employability and Professional Practice explores essential aspects of best practice within children's services in order to enhance employability skills, identifying how and why key aspects of best practice have emerged within children's services. The key elements of professional practice at the centre of the multidisciplinary work in today's children's services are considered, including: * different childhoods; * child development; * enhanced learning; * professional skills; * inclusion; * holistic practice. Each chapter draws together practical teaching experience with sound academic analysis to support those training to work in the early childhood sector, and those already practising, to raise their employability potential by identifying and evaluating best practice.

Early Childhood Studies: A Social Science Perspective explores key issues in early childhood studies from a variety of social science disciplines, including psychology, sociology, social policy and education. Each chapter considers a different social science discipline, identifying, analysing and critically assessing how that particular discipline enriches early years provision and research. User-friendly student features are included throughout, including: - Icebreakers introduce the main chapter themes - Objectives help readers to develop cognitive skills, moving from identifying to analysing to critically assessing - Formative activities encourage practical application of the content - Case-studies ground theory in practice - Research activities support those looking to take their understanding further - Self-assessment questions allow readers to test their knowledge - Further reading references and web links provide ideas for further exploration An essential course companion for all Early Childhood Studies undergraduate students.

Applying social science subjects such as psychology, sociology, social policy and research methods to Early Years can help to raise standards and ensure good practice. These subjects inform much of the academic curriculum within many Early Years programmes and are subjects that make an important contribution to understanding children's behaviour, growth and development. The book identifies, analyses and assesses how social science enriches Early Years as opposed to regarding Early Years and social science as distinct. Each chapter imaginatively introduces the main learning objectives and includes formative activities, which apply social science to particular themes to aid students' cognitive skills.

This is a comprehensive guide to the requirements for achieving Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status. This textbook is a complete guide to achieving QTLS. Key themes of teaching and learning are explored in the context of the lifelong learning sector, showing how these two processes are inextricably linked and how to apply these theories to practice. Each chapter contains: a map showing links to QTLS standards; formative activities to encourage practical application of the chapter content; case studies providing real-life examples; self-assessment questions enabling readers to test their knowledge and understanding; and, further reading references for those wishing to explore the themes in greater depth. This textbook is essential reading for anyone training to teach in the lifelong learning sector.

Psychology is an important part of the social work syllabus, usually studied as a separate module in the first year, but also integrated within the academic curriculum. This fully-updated second edition will help students understand the concepts of psychology and apply them to their own practice. It shows that, for social workers, it is important for psychology to be studied in the contexts of social care, as it offers potential explanations of complex aspects of human behaviour and development. An overview of the key psychological approaches is given and the author demonstrates how these can be applied to social work practice.