This book provides a critical insight into comparative approaches to the professional learning and development of early years educators - taken to include all those working in a professional capacity with young children in educative settings, including home-based care and education. It also analyses leadership development for the early years workforce, and the evaluation of the success or otherwise of professional development initiatives involving early years educators. The book includes perspectives on relevant policy development at local and national levels and critical consideration of research literature on the effectiveness of professional development programmes for early years educators. The book is essential reading for professionals working in early years settings, for those engaged with the professional learning of early years educators, and for academics researching professionalism in early years education. It provides international perspectives on the professional learning and development of those working in early years education. This book was originally published as a special issue of the journal Professional Development in Education.

This valuable textbook for advanced students and practitioners helps readers cultivate a deeper knowledge and critical understanding of the contexts in which practice with children and young people takes place, and to develop as critical reflective practitioners. This new edition is substantially updated to reflect the changes in the field since the publication of the first edition. It contains additional chapters discussing new and emerging topics including: * key theoretical perspectives for critical practice * the politics of child protection * working with grieving children * the impact of devolution on policy and practice with children and young people. Giving equal attention to practice with both children and young people, this book will be essential both for students and for practitioners in fields such as social work, education, health care and related fields.

This bestselling textbook provides an introduction to the fundamentals of teaching and learning in early years and primary education. If you are training to work in schools or other educational settings, the book offers a wide range of practical and straightforward guidance, covering essential topics such as safeguarding; attachments and relationships; assessment; the indoor and outdoor environment; new technologies; behaviour management; and well-being. Thoroughly updated throughout and retaining its lively and engaging style, this new fifth edition extends your knowledge and understanding of working and playing effectively with young children. Enlivened by thought-provoking cameos and reflective questions, the book gives you the confidence to reflect upon, challenge and enhance your own pedagogies. Key features include: * Real life cameos drawn from schools and settings * Questions to promote thinking included in each chapter * Suggested further reading including a range of annotated references * Up-to-date research and issues that teachers may face Beginning Teaching, Beginning Learning is essential reading for student and newly qualified early years and primary teachers and practitioners, as well as those who educate and train them. "This outstanding book should a core text for beginning teachers working in the birth to 11 age range. It places Early Years and Primary education in the historical context and encourages new teachers to become reflective practitioners by adopting a questioning approach based on thoughtful comparative experiences. One aspect which makes this stand out from other similar texts is the focus it has on developing a deep understanding of the partnership between children's learning and the beginner teacher. Contributors, many of whom have been teachers themselves, include experts not only in their specific fields of interest but also in teacher education more broadly so understand what is relevant for those on initial teacher education courses and those in the early stages of their teaching career." Jane Warwick, Primary PGCE Course Manager, University of Cambridge, UK "Beginning Teaching, Beginning Learning should be a core text on all birth to 11 years ITT courses. The book neatly combines grounded cameos of actual teaching experience with real life questions and dovetails these with a thoroughly referenced scholarly critique. Through its engaging style and approach the book speaks clearly and directly to the inquisitive, curious and professional novice teacher who wishes to be both thoroughly reflective and knowledgeable of the latest research. This book is hugely successful as it manages to be both very wide in its content whilst encouraging a questioning and in-depth critical thinking throughout". Guy Roberts-Holmes, MA Early Years Education Programme Director, UCL Institute of Education, UK

This book provides a critical insight into comparative approaches to the professional learning and development of early years educators - taken to include all those working in a professional capacity with young children in educative settings, including home-based care and education. It also analyses leadership development for the early years workforce, and the evaluation of the success or otherwise of professional development initiatives involving early years educators. The book includes perspectives on relevant policy development at local and national levels and critical consideration of research literature on the effectiveness of professional development programmes for early years educators. The book is essential reading for professionals working in early years settings, for those engaged with the professional learning of early years educators, and for academics researching professionalism in early years education. It provides international perspectives on the professional learning and development of those working in early years education. This book was originally published as a special issue of the journal Professional Development in Education.

There is a growing interest in understanding how early years care and education is organised and experienced internationally. This book examines key influential approaches to early years care as well as some less well-known systems from around the world. In particular the book aims to: Inform those studying early years about perspectives in other countries Encourage critical thinking about issues, influences and the complexities of early years provision around the world Promote critical reflection on students' own provision and the current context of that provision Each chapter provides an overview of early years provision and explores historical and current influences in context, as well as offering insights into daily life through short vignettes, longer case studies and commentary from practitioners.

Whilst many approaches - such as Reggio Emilia, Te Whariki and Head Start - are widely admired, it is important for reflective practitioners to understand the motivation which gave rise to these influential approaches in their original context. Additionally, broadening understanding through information on less widely known systems, the book provides students with a good grounding in the international context of early years, the provenance of different early years approaches and principles, and the influences on their own countries' provision.

Written in a straightforward and accessible style, the book is designed to meet the needs of students studying modules related to international perspectives on a range of foundation, bachelor and master's degrees in early years.

"Contributors: Verity Campbell-Barr, Federica Caruso, Carmen Dalli, Rebecca Carter Dillon, Annie Davy, Chandrika Devarakonda, Alena Drzalova, Hasina Banu Ebrahim, Susan Edwards, Dora Ho, Valerie Huggins, Anne Hunt, Kerstin Koop, Eva Kovacsne Bakoski, Caroline Leeson, Beth Marshall, Nancy McDermott, Julia Morgan, Joce Nutall, Elin Eriksen Odegaard, Philip Selbie, Paolo Sorzio, Manabu Sumida, Keang-ieng (Peggy) Vong, Karen Wickett"

""The book rightly challenges common assumptions about the value of Western perspectives of ECEC and skilfully enables the reader to recognize the various social, political and economic drivers and processes that have shaped early years pedagogy on a global level."
Dr Janet Rose, Early Years Education Award Leader, Bath Spa University, UK

"Given the ever increasing interest and importance of global early childhood education and care, this critically informed book offers valuable and challenging internationalised comparative arguments for students and academics at all levels."
Dr Guy Roberts-Holmes, Senior Lecturer, Early Years and Primary Education Department, University of London, UK "

The new edition of this best selling book looks critically at the 2012 Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and draws attention to issues that underlie the EYFS and the implications for children from birth to five.With its questions for reflection and discussion, further reading and useful websites, Early Years Foundations is essential and informative reading for students studying any early years or early childhood course, or working towards Early Years Teacher Status.Among the many challenges facing early years professionals, there are continual dilemmas arising between perceptions of good practice, the practicalities of provision and meeting OfSTED requirements. This exciting and innovative new edition supports practitioners in thinking through their responsibilities in tackling some of the many challenges they encounter, for example, that children are still perceived as 'deficit' in some way and in need of 'being school ready' rather than as developing individuals who have a right to a childhood and appropriate early education.Chapters explore the rationale behind early years practice based on theory and research, covering important topics including: Prime and specific areas of learning and developmentObservation and assessmentPedagogyWorking with parentsDifference and diversity Contributors: Sue Bingham, Gill Boag-Munroe, Liz Brooker, Helen Clarke, Anne Cockburn, Rosie Flewitt, Jan Georgeson, Michael Jones, Lilian G. Katz, Caroline Leeson, Paulette Luff, Jayne Osgood, John Parry, Jane Payler, Karen Phethean, Linda Pound, Anne Rawlings, Jonathan Rix, Sue Rogers, Anita Soni, Suzy Tutchell, Judith Twani, Jane Waters, David Whitebread"Early Years Foundations: Critical issues is a timely and valuable edition for the early childhood bookshelf, offering high quality scholarship combined with deep understanding of early childhood practice. This is a book that values early childhood practitioners as critical partners and experts in young children's learning and development. At a time of fluctuating policy, the authors remind us of the need to advocate for what matters in early childhood and they suggest ways that we can provide excellent experiences for young children with potential to enhance their lives for the long term." Jane Murray PhD, Senior Lecturer, University of Northampton, UK "There seems to be a proliferation of publications currently in the field of early years education and care but this book stands out amongst the crowd for a number of reasons. In particular, the status of the three editing authors means that the content of the book is to be trusted to be both informed and thorough in its attention to detail, and this second edition has been carefully updated to incorporate recent reforms and initiatives. The editing authors' insistence on the creation of an early years text that centres on a critically reflective review of contemporary policy and research can only help to build the argument for a better future for young children's care and education. This is a book in which there are many chapters worthy of recommendation and which will form the basis for future debates and publications but Rogers' scholarly work on Enabling Pedagogy encapsulates some core research, essential to our understanding of our work with children, and is a strong and refreshing contribution, while Katz' notion of 'standards of experiences' for young children should give us all food for thought." Dr Kathy Goouch, Reader in Education, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK "This book is not another bland 'how to do it' manual to accompany the EYFS, it goes much further in offering a truly challenging critique. Helpfully contextualised within the changing policy and political context, each chapter focuses on a different aspect of the curriculum framework and is written by someone with recognised expertise in the field. The strengths of the current EYFS are recognised but the issues and tensions are also made explicit with arguments backed up by theory and research evidence. This should be essential reading for experienced practitioners as well as Early Childhood Studies students." Denise Hevey, Professor of Early Years, University of Northampton, UK.