Drawing on research, theory and practice, this book presents ways in which practitioners, working in partnership with parents, can give children a successful start to school. Written in an accessible style, the book helps early years practitioners planning transition programs for new children and offers ideas for developing their professional practice when working with families. Starting school at the age of four or five is recognized as a major adjustment in a child's life that can determine his or her future success in education. This book highlights the factors that influence children's early adjustment, including their social and emotional wellbeing, so that schools can learn the best way to offer support. Practitioners, managers and those studying on early childhood courses will gain an understanding of the complexity and diversity of transition and will learn how they can make this a stress-free time for the children, families and professionals involved.

By the time young children enter statutory education, they may have already attended a number of different educational settings, from entry to group settings outside home, to joining playgroup or nursery school. Each of these experiences is likely to affect children's capacity to adjust and to learn.
This book focuses on children's experiences of personal and curricular transitions in early childhood. The authors are all academics with international reputations in the field of early childhood education. They draw on their research in Europe, Australasia and the USA to consider issues such as:
*the optimum environment and appropriate pedagogy for young children's learning
*how children, parents and educators cope with the transition from home to the first educational settings
*the ways in which professionals can better support and empower children in transition
The perspectives of children, parents and early years educators are all considered and case study examples are used throughout.
This book will be essential reading for anyone involved in working with young children and their families, including students on early years courses, early years practitioners and early years policy makers.

Drawing on research, theory and practice, this book presents ways in which practitioners, working in partnership with parents, can give children a successful start to school.

Written in an accessible style, the book helps early years practitioners planning transition programs for new children and offers ideas for developing their professional practice when working with families.

Starting school at the age of four or five is recognized as a major adjustment in a child's life that can determine his or her future success in education. This book highlights the factors that influence children's early adjustment, including their social and emotional wellbeing, so that schools can learn the best way to offer support.

Practitioners, managers and those studying on early childhood courses will gain an understanding of the complexity and diversity of transition and will learn how they can make this a stress-free time for the children, families and professionals involved.

An increased emphasis on an early start in group day care and educational settings for young children means that by the time children enter statutory education, they may already have had several transitional experiences: each will have an impact.

. . This book explores early transitions from a variety of international perspectives. Each chapter is informed by rigorous research and makes recommendations on how education professionals can better understand and support transitions in the early years. Contributors examine issues such as: . . Parental involvement in the transition to school. Children's voices on the transition to primary school. The construction of identity in the early years. . Readers will be able to draw support, guidance and inspiration from the different writers to scaffold their own thinking and development in relation to childrens transitions. Ample opportunities are offered for readers to gain confidence and competence in dealing with the range of people involved in transitions, and to the benefit of everyone, not least the children, whose transitions capital will grow.

. . "Informing Transitions in the Early Years" is essential reading for early years students, practitioners, policy makers and researchers..

By the time young children enter statutory education, they may have already attended a number of different educational settings, from entry to group settings outside home, to joining playgroup or nursery school. Each of these experiences is likely to affect children's capacity to adjust and to learn.
This book focuses on children's experiences of personal and curricular transitions in early childhood. The authors are all academics with international reputations in the field of early childhood education. They draw on their research in Europe, Australasia and the USA to consider issues such as:
*the optimum environment and appropriate pedagogy for young children's learning
*how children, parents and educators cope with the transition from home to the first educational settings
*the ways in which professionals can better support and empower children in transition
The perspectives of children, parents and early years educators are all considered and case study examples are used throughout.
This book will be essential reading for anyone involved in working with young children and their families, including students on early years courses, early years practitioners and early years policy makers.

'[T]his book has been well planned and provides information which is relevant for students and teachers alike in supporting teaching and learning. In particular, the practical aspects of group tasks and discussion points enable the reader to develop their reflective skills through the knowledge gained' - ESCalate 'This informative and thought-provoking collection of essays brings together theory, policy and practice for practitioners working with children aged from birth to three years old...It would be a great resource for students' - Nursery World 'This is a very well edited collection easily accessible to everyone involved in the early years, with the common thread being the holistic nature of very young children's learning. Using the contents of the different chapters for reflection and analysis, those implementing the new Early Years Foundation Stage will be able to promote and enhance children's development and learning experiences and certainly their own practices...This book powerfully reminds readers of what is at the heart of their care and learning interactions with babies and young children' - Professor Emeritus Janet Moyles, Play Consultant With a focus on the most critical years in a young child's development, this book brings together the essential theory, policy and practice for everyone working with young children. Concentrating on the 0 to 3 age range, the book considers all relevant legislation such as Every Child Matters and the new Early Years Foundation Stage. The content is organized into four sections: - development and learning; - policy to practice; - leadership and management; - establishing effective relationships. Examining the influence of policy on practice, issues covered include the stages of child development, observing young children, making partnerships with parents, building relationships within and between teams, working in a multi-agency way and creating a caring and stimulating environment. To illustrate practice and aid reflection, the chapters have: - chapter objectives; - case studies; - group tasks; - discussion points; - recommendations for further reading; - useful websites. Suitable for all early years students and practitioners, it is a must-have resource.