A multi-disciplinary and holistic approach to the well-being of young children to support child development modules on a variety of programmes. The emotional, physical and social well-being of young children is a prime area of the new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and is at the forefront of current policy and debate. This text goes beyond issues of safeguarding to address how the well-being of young children can be affected by a range of circumstances and how well-being is promoted by professionals from a variety of disciplines. It looks at various aspects of well-being in the young child from a number of perspectives, and examines key issues such as special and additional needs, poverty and deprivation, abuse, race, ethnicity and culture.

A comprehensive and up to date text for all those required to understand early years' policy and practice. It provides a succinct insight into key elements of the national and international political, economic and social agendas that influence and affect young children's lives, and the impact of these on early years' professional practice and provision. It provides a critical examination of policy development and its application within an historical and international context.