Narrative in the Early Years Curriculum offers a timely new perspective on the place of narrative in the early years curriculum. Applying the results of up-to-date psychological research to day-to-day practice in pre-schools, day nurseries, schools and out of school play care settings, the author help readers to understand just what it is that makes so many story books produced for pre-school children in recent years a success and what deeper purposes they serve.

Offering helpful advice on what works, the book shows how good practice based on practical experience is underpinned and clarified by research findings. Furthermore, it illustrates that an understanding of the development of narrative competence can challenge current ideas on various areas of early years practice, including child protection, health and safety and the consultation of children.

Narrative in the Early Years Curriculum offers a timely new perspective on the place of narrative in the early years curriculum. Applying the results of up-to-date psychological research to day-to-day practice in pre-schools, day nurseries, schools and out of school play care settings, the author help readers to understand just what it is that makes so many story books produced for pre-school children in recent years a success and what deeper purposes they serve.

Offering helpful advice on what works, the book shows how good practice based on practical experience is underpinned and clarified by research findings. Furthermore, it illustrates that an understanding of the development of narrative competence can challenge current ideas on various areas of early years practice, including child protection, health and safety and the consultation of children.

This work is designed for those needing to understand and comply with regulations for childhood education and care. The author relates his text to the new framework resulting from the Government's developing National Child Care Strategy.
Specifically, it reflects the transfer of responsibility from social to educational services and the establishment of a new regulatory body, The Early Years Directorate, a new arm of OFSTED.
Major controversial issues are elucidated and different standpoints are explained, but the book's main focus is on the need to establish a sound working relationship between the new regulatory regime, on the one hand, and proprietors, managers, practitioners and advisors on the other.

Taking the discussion about cultural diversity beyond the usual topics of anti-racism and inclusion but without overlooking these issues, this book considers current debates around the alleged failure of multiculturalism, and encourages practitioners to utilise their own cultural backgrounds and experiences as a way of developing their teaching. With an optimistic outlook, and focusing on the advantages for learning that cultural diversity can offer, the book discusses the concepts of culture, multi-culturalism and inter-cultural competence, and describes the principles that underpin good practice. It is packed full of case studies from a variety of early years settings, with ideas to try out and interactive exercises to aid reflection. Issues covered in the book include: - addressing cultural diversity in staff meetings, and on short training courses - planning a critical audit of your setting - working with parents from a variety of cultural backgrounds - how to explain diversity to young children - the overwhelmingly white British setting - settings where white British children are in the minority - curriculum developments in different parts of the UK, post-devolution Written for all early childhood students and early years practitioners, it is relevant to anyone interested in inclusion, society and global citizenship. Peter Baldock has worked extensively in early years education as a teacher, in community development, in registration and inspection of early years services, and as an Associate Lecturer with the Open University. His publications include three books on early years services, and he is actively involved in Sheffield's 0-19+ Partnership on behalf of the voluntary sector.

Taking the discussion about cultural diversity beyond the usual topics of anti-racism and inclusion but without overlooking these issues, this book considers current debates around the alleged failure of multiculturalism, and encourages practitioners to utilise their own cultural backgrounds and experiences as a way of developing their teaching. With an optimistic outlook, and focusing on the advantages for learning that cultural diversity can offer, the book discusses the concepts of culture, multi-culturalism and inter-cultural competence, and describes the principles that underpin good practice. It is packed full of case studies from a variety of early years settings, with ideas to try out and interactive exercises to aid reflection. Issues covered in the book include: - addressing cultural diversity in staff meetings, and on short training courses - planning a critical audit of your setting - working with parents from a variety of cultural backgrounds - how to explain diversity to young children - the overwhelmingly white British setting - settings where white British children are in the minority - curriculum developments in different parts of the UK, post-devolution Written for all early childhood students and early years practitioners, it is relevant to anyone interested in inclusion, society and global citizenship. Peter Baldock has worked extensively in early years education as a teacher, in community development, in registration and inspection of early years services, and as an Associate Lecturer with the Open University. His publications include three books on early years services, and he is actively involved in Sheffield's 0-19+ Partnership on behalf of the voluntary sector.