Fully up to date with the latest information and theories, this text supports students and practitioners working in early years management.

This book covers key topics such as diversity, bereavement and effective nutrition for children. It offers a unique collection from leading international education specialists in the field.

′This book is a very useful resource for setting leaders undertaking advanced study, such as Early Years Professional Status and the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership...[I]t is also an interesting and up-to-date reference tool for qualified managers and leaders of early years settings, large and small, in all sectors′ - Early Years Update ′Through discussion points and case studies, the authors explore the key skills and techniques necessary to effectively lead and manage an early years setting - Nursery Education Plus, as part of their ′Ten of the Best early years professional books′ feature. `This book will make a relevant and helpful contribution in enabling practitioners to explore and understand the different ways in which they can lead and manage across a diverse range of settings and at different levels. Through helpful discussion points and case studies, the book will encourage practitioners to consider both theory and practice, including value based practice and the skills required for working within a new multi-disciplinary environment. A welcome and accessible text for early years practitioners facing the challenges and demands of this new agenda′ - Professor Linda Miller, Professor of Early Years, The Open University Firmly grounded in practice, this book puts children and families at the centre of good early years leadership. There is now considerable emphasis on leadership skills in this sector, as the workforce becomes increasingly professionalized. The following are considered: - changes and developments within the early years sector - the impact of good leadership on children and their families - effective practice in a variety of settings, including Children′s Centres - value-based leadership, and inspirational leadership - meeting the challenges - managing change - inter-agency and multi-disciplinary working - working with families and parent groups. Useful features such as Activities for Continuing Professional Development, Questions for Reflection and Pictures of Practice appear throughout the book. Those studying for Foundation Degrees, leaders undertaking the National Professional Qualification for Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL), those undertaking the management modules for Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) and anyone studying Childhood and Early Childhood will find this book an invaluable aid.

Updated to account for computerized administration systems. Provides suggestions for Continuing Professional Development of staff and managers. Provides up-to-date case studies and examples, which focus on key topics and help apply theory to practice. The new CD-ROM contains over 60 fully editable sample documents to help nursery managers develop practical and reliable systems for their workplace and can be easily adapted to fit individual requirements. The CD-ROM also provides sample job descriptions, contracts and documents covering all aspects of nursery policy.

Engage learners with this new and fully updated edition that covers core topics across all aspects of Early Years. This comprehensive full-colour textbook will build knowledge and understanding, from traditional theory to cutting-edge research, and from updated legislative and regulatory frameworks, to effective practice examples. - Benefit from the expert knowledge of authoritative contributors, skilfully edited by Dr Francisca Veale. - Content carefully matched to core modules offered on higher level early years programmes. - New and relevant material covering literacy, numeracy and digital literacy. Who is this book for? Early Years for Levels 4 & 5 and the Foundation Degree is an authoritative and accessible course textbook for anyone studying at Levels 4 and 5, whether a Foundation Degree, HNC/HND, the first year of an undergraduate programme or other higher vocational qualifications related to early years or early childhood studies. It is also relevant to those working towards Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) or Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS).

This core introductory textbook offers an accessible yet rigorous approach to Early Childhood issues, addressing both Care and Education in the Early Years. It presents a multi-disciplinary perspective and will add value to any Early Childhood Studies course at both foundation and degree level. This text engages the reader by providing real-world examples that underpin theoretical perspectives and bring examples to life, whilst providing the student with an opportunity to reflect on their own similar experiences. The book is supported with a range of useful supplementary materials including an exciting companion website package.

Achieving Early Years Professional Status requires candidates to demonstrate that they have effectively led the professional practice of their colleagues across the 0-5 age range. This book helps both Early Years students and experienced practitioners develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to do just that. It clearly explains the nature of the leadership required, and emphasises the need for an influencing role in modelling good practice and promoting appropriate values and principles.

"This much-needed book examines the implications of the Every Child Matters (ECM) national and local framework for working with children. It analyses the key issues from the perspective of the different professions that make up the 'new children's workforce' and explores interprofessional considerations." "Offering a clear guide to the implications of Every Child Matters for practice, this book will be widely welcomed by tutors and practitioners alike, enabling readers to make sense of the legislation and national guidance, and to understand better the new agendas for children's services."--BOOK JACKET.

This book looks at the challenges of restructuring services and working with people with different training and working practices. It suggests that the way staff work together will impact on the service offered to children and their families. It explains how to be an effective member of the team and encourage confident and open communication between colleagues. It looks at what makes an effective team; discusses how the organisational set-up affects the practice positively or negatively; suggests ways for creating listening environments where colleagues can discuss differences; and emphasises the importance of developing professional learning together.

Once the Cinderella of the education system, early years education has evolved into a much more substantially funded sector with staff experiencing greater opportunities for higher-level training and education as well as increasing demands. This book reflects practitioner debates about fundamental questions such as whether or not their field of work is a profession at all. Two key arguments are presented. The first is that early years education has matured to the point that pedagogical and regulatory frameworks have been introduced and linked to a terminology of professionalism. This has opened up a space for early years practitioners – as insiders of this historically undervalued sector – to question the nature of their practice. The questioning leads to the second argument: the need for a new future for early years education marked by a ‘critical ecology’ of the profession. This is a future in which educators maintain an attitude of critical enquiry in all aspects of their role, assessing the genuine needs of the sector, factoring in the different political and cultural milieux that influence it, and acting to transform it. In exploring the issues, this book begins by recording in detail the daily work of early years educators from six countries: Australia, England, Finland, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden. These case studies explore what it means to act professionally in a particular context; perceptions of what being a ‘professional’ in early childhood education means (including practitioners’ self perceptions and external perspectives); and common features of practice in each context. It moves on to analyse the wider socio-political forces that affect this day-to-day practice and recommends that practitioners act as transformative agents informed by the political and social realities of their time.