This collection of original contributions by leading researchers celebrates the 1996 centenary of the births of the two most seminal figures in education and developmental psychology - Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Research in their footsteps continues worldwide and is growing.
What are the implications for the future for this extensive programme? Which of the large body of findings has proved most important to current research? Based around five themes, these original contributions cover educational intervention and teaching, social collaboration and learning, cognitive skills and domains, the measurement of development and the development of modal understanding.

Full Contributors:
Professor Michael Beveridge, University of Bristol; Professor Michael Shayer, University of Cambridge; Dr. Gerard Duveen, University of Cambridge; Professor A.N. Perret-Clermont, Universite de Neuchatel, Switzerland; Professor Peter Bryant, University of Oxford; Professor Lauren Resnick, University of Pittsburg, USA; Dr. Trevor Bond, James Cook University, Australia; Dr. Margaret Chalmers, University of Edinburgh; Dr. Brendan McGonigle, University of Edinburgh; Dr. Paul Harris, University of Oxford; Professor Deanna Kuhn, Columbia University, USA; Dr. Julie Dockrell, Institute of Education, London; Dr. P. Tomlinson, University of Leeds; Dr. R. Campbell, Stirling University; Dr. Gerry Finn Strathclyde University; Dr. Jon Ridgeway, Lancaster University; Professor Kathy Sylva, Institute of Education, London

Children's language difficulties affect many areas of functioning and devlopment. Since most children with these difficulties are expected to function in ordinary schools and nurseries it is important that parents, teachers and practitioners have a broad understanding of the issues. Language and communication problems typically fall under the umbrella terms 'language disability, 'language delay', or 'language difficulties. They can range from an occasional difficulty with certain sounds to an inability to communicate using spoken language. These problems can occur in isolation or be associated with a range of special needs such as hearing loss, visual impairment or learning disabilities. This is the first introductory text to outline the difficulties experienced by children and link these to issues surrounding multidisciplinary assessment, intervention and service provision.Children's Language and Communication Difficulties offers professionals and parents an up-to-date account of: -the developmental language problems that children experience -the provision available to meet the child's needs the long term impact of language difficulties The authors examine the problems of identification and diagnosis, and explore the range of physical and cognitive disabilities associated with language problems. They have also looked closely at alternative forms of communication and have provided the reader with discussion and evaluation of recently developed intervention techniques. Julie Dockwell is Professor of Psychology at South Bank University and is a qualified clinical and educational psychologist. David Messer is Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire.