Reflective Practice in the Early Years

Early years practitioners are increasingly being asked to undertake a variety of personal and professional development activities and this book helps them to do so by reflecting critically on what they do.

Written for anyone working in the field of early years education and care, this book encourages students and practitioners to consider their own practice and to examine practice in a wide range of early years settings. The four sections link closely to the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage, and support the reader in developing a critical and reflective approach to their own work.

Issues covered include:

@!play in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in England

@!the Foundation Phase in Wales

@!safeguarding children

@!the healthy child

@!leading a team at a Children′s Centre

@!how childminders are working with the EYFS

@!leading and managing a multi-agency workforce

@!Continuing Professional Development for early years practitioners

Ideal for those working towards Early Years Professional Status (EYPS), this book is also a must-read for students on any early years course, and will help the professional development of all practitioners working with the Birth to Eight age range.

Michael Reed is Senior Lecturer at the University of Worcester and Associate Lecturer with the Open University. Natalie Canning is Lecturer at the Open University.

Introduction - Michael Reed and Natalie Canning
PART ONE: CHILDREN′S LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Reflective Thinking; Reflective Practice - Karen Appleby
Play in the Early Years Foundation Stage - Natalie Canning
21st Century Digital Technology and Children′s Learning - Linda Tyler
Policy to Practice in Wales - Michael Reed and Alison Morrell
PART TWO: THE UNIQUE CHILD
Safeguarding Children: Every Child Matters so Everybody Matters! - Claire Majella Richards
A Healthy Child - Direction, Deficit or Diversity? - Mandy Andrews and Kate Fowler
PART THREE: ENABLING PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTS
Children′s Centres and Children′s Services? - Michael Reed
Working Together at a Children′s Centre - Rosie Walker
Managing Multi-Agency Working - Wendy Messenger
PART FOUR: POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN A MULTI-AGENCY WORLD
Distance Learning and Professional Development - Victoria Cooper
Early Years Professionals: Leading for Change - Rory McDowall Clark and Sue Baylis
Defining and Measuring Quality in Early Years Settings - Alison Jackson
From Experienced Practitioner to Reflective Professional - Sue Callan
Conclusion - Michael Reed and Natalie Canning
Useful Websites - Michael Reed and Natalie Canning