"...an easy-to-read evaluation of a trailblazer local programme... packed with helpful information such as pointers for the future, pie charts and parents' stories (not translated into dry 'research' speak)... It renewed my passion and reminded me why I got involved in Sure Start in the first place" Nursery World “This book demonstrates the key strength of Sure Start, its breadth of vision… It shows how with the right effort, statutory and voluntary organisations can work side by side. It also shows how important it is to engage local people in finding solutions, blending professional and community support to strengthen both… Learning from Sure Start is a significant contribution to the evidence base on what works for young children and families.”Naomi Eisenstadt, Director, Sure Start Unit Sure Start, an exciting initiative in early childhood care and education with families in the UK, has been developing new forms of community-focused early interventions, with the aim of having all children ‘ready to flourish’ when they start school. This book, the first of its kind, is the result of a close collaboration between one local programme and a university over a five year period. The contributors all have first hand experience as practitioners or researchers in the Sure Start programme at Foxhill & Parson Cross in Sheffield, which has provided a wide range of new services. Contributors: Describe various services within health, education and social welfare Examine implications of the development of inter-agency theory and practice for planning and delivery of services for children Evaluate methods that were employed Identify what worked and what didn’t Indicate lessons that can be drawn from experience This is indispensable reading for students of early childhood and early years practitioners, policy makers, and researchers.

"I hope this book will inspire early years practitioners, lecturers and trainers to stop and think in the hustle and bustle of daily practice, to take a fresh look at the play of these very young children. This book does not claim to have all the answers but seeks to challenge practitioners to observe closely and respond to babies as they begin to play."Elinor Goldschmied, author of People under Three: Young Children in Day Care This book focuses on the need to equip practitioners to meet the play needs of children in today’s early years settings. With babies and very young children increasingly being cared for in out-of-home care settings, it is essential for early years practitioners to be responsive and reflective to ensure that these young children’s needs are met in an appropriate way. Beginning to Play explores the young child’s right to a high quality, multi-sensory play environment where play really can begin. It builds on Goldschmied’s concept of Treasure Basket play, which involves a wide variety of everyday objects gathered together to stimulate all five senses of babies and young children. The book features detailed observations of babies beginning to play at and beyond the treasure basket. These observations support readers in offering rich play materials and experiences. Providing valuable insights and practical support, this reader-friendly book: Encourages practitioners to reflect on and review their own current practice. Supports readers in recognising and responding to babies’ signals and communication Emphasises the need for emotional well-being to enable babies and young children to begin to play and examines the effects of non-responsive care on babies and young children Beginning to Play is essential reading for practitioners working with children from birth to three, students on Early Childhood Studies courses, and other readers who are eager to increase their knowledge about children from birth to three.

Reviews of the first edition “At a time of constant and rapid change in education, this book will inform and reassure early childhood professionals.” Practical Pre-School “Besides advice on the most helpful ways to develop learning in areas such as maths and literacy, there are suggestions and comments about further reading at the end of each chapter, and examples of the thoughts and responses of real children are never far from the page.” TES “Innovative, resourceful and thoroughly researched… a challenge to existing and emerging early childhood professionals.” Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood Promoting Children's Learning from Birth to Five supports early years professionals as they develop new practices to promote young children’s learning. This second edition fully reflects the enormous changes in early childhood education and care since the publication of the first edition. Retaining its successful focus on literacy and mathematical development as key exemplars of promoting young children's learning, the book considers new ways of working with parents, promoting inter-professional collaboration, and achieving sustainable, systematic change in children's services. The second edition: Draws on current research in early literacy and mathematical thinking Focuses on multiprofessional practice, showing how practitioners who work from evidence across professional boundaries are able to give strong, interactive and sensitive support to young children and their parents Takes into account policies and practices such as Every Child Matters, the Primary Strategy and Children's Centres Includes updated material on aspects of leadership, and on the role of the Senior Practitioner in developing innovative services for children and their families Explores the importance of personal, social and emotional development in the curriculum for under-fives Working from the basis that children learn most readily in contexts where parents and professionals are keen to learn, the authors help early childhood professionals to meet the challenges of reshaping children's services. This is key reading for all early childhood professionals and students.

This book provides a timely overview of the revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and explores what this means for early years' pedagogy and practice. As well as discussing the philosophy and rationale underpinning the changes, there are practical suggestions to support practitioners with the implementation of the revised framework, as well as insights from experienced professionals who share their knowledge and understanding and support you in reflecting on your own principles and practice. The book: Fosters deep understanding of the revised EYFS framework Provides a valuable source of reference for early years students and practitioners Promotes and helps develop good practice in early years Offers reflections and insights from experienced professionals into key areas of practice Makes links between the EYFS and current research, theory and practice The book draws on a wealth of expertise to provide an essential handbook for all early years students, practitioners and academics who are privileged to be involved with the care and education of young children. "This contemporary and relevant text explores, from multiple perspectives, the key challenges facing early years practitioners at a time of unprecedented change in education. It systematically explores and offers insights into the many agencies including education, health and social care that work together to enable high quality early years practice to be developed. By drawing on a range of professionals in the field, it challenges the reader to critically analyse the characteristics of effective early learning and to consider the key underpinning pedagogy that informs it. It is accessible to a wide audience including students, researchers, teacher trainers and practitioners. I would strongly recommend it as a set text on our Primary and Early Years PGCE course." Derval Carey-Jenkins, Principal Lecturer: PGCE Primary and Early Years Course Leader, University of Worcester, UK "This contemporary book focusing on the new Early Years Foundation Stage is an essential read for those studying and delivering early years curriculum and pedagogy. The book draws on theory, research, policy and practice and ensures that the chapters have significance to all early years practitioners. It challenges the reader to think reflectively about the EYFS and what is appropriate provision to support and develop young children's learning. The book is effectively organised into four relevant parts and is a very accessible read, often exemplifying high quality provision through interesting research observations, case studies and scenarios." Dr Avril Brock, Principal Lecturer in Early Childhood Education, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK Contributors: Jan Ashbridge, Pat Beckley, Emma Butcher, Elizabeth Carruthers, Liz Creed, Julie Kitchen, Rachel Sparks Linfield, Estelle Martin, Jane Murray, Jackie Musgrave, Kathy Ring, Anita Soni, Corinne Syrnyk

This major text for Education Studies students provides a critical account of key issues in education today. The text features: A critical analysis of key issues in Education Studies to encourage students’ thinking about education in the broadest terms Themed sections with introductions to link the issues discussed in each chapter Use of specific examples of educational diversity to illustrate how concerns such as ethnicity, gender and class operate in educational institutions An examination of educational issues as they relate to other phases of educational provision, such as home schooling and universities Education Studies: Issues and Critical Perspectives is an essential text for Education Studies students. It is also of value to students on QTS courses and students and professionals in areas such as sociology, childhood studies, community studies and education policy.

The book recognises the main principles that underpin effective safeguarding practices and explores the application of a range of key tools that will facilitate a sense of empowerment for practitioners dealing with safeguarding issues. The authors emphasize the importance of preventative interventions as a positive means of impacting on the lives of children and their families. They do this through such processes as the Common Assessment Framework, as well as maintaining the need within the system for responses to be made to urgent concerns that are closely related to safeguarding and child protection processes. With practical case studies throughout, the book helps you: Understand what your responsibilities are Decide what appropriate action should be taken Develop a means of coping with this sensitive area Make sense of current policies and procedures This book is essential reading for all early years students and professionals who wish to explore and rehearse various safeguarding situations in preparation for practice.

"This important book brings together valuable resources and insights in a key area of practice which has often been overlooked, and where disadvantage and discrimination are rife, but which also deserves and demands serious attention of the kind offered here." Roger Smith, Professor of Social Work Research, De Montfort University, UK This comprehensive book uniquely acknowledges the overlap between different states of adult vulnerability within a range of health, social care and community contexts. The book looks beyond social work practice and legislative focus to examine the categories of ‘at risk’ and ‘vulnerable adults’. These include often forgotten groups such as homeless people, prisoners and migrant workers. Through a range of practical examples, the book illustrates how professionals can usefully and effectively intervene to lessen the chance of a member of an excluded community becoming at greater ‘risk’ of further vulnerability. The book includes: Explanations of core themes and implications for a range of professionals and service providers with a practical and accessible focus Case studies and practice examples from work with vulnerable groups Illustrative examples of how different states of vulnerability are frequently contingent upon one another Working with Adults at Risk from Harm is ideal for third-year undergraduate students and Master's students in the fields of social work, social care, community health and education, as well as staff working in public sector who will have contact with vulnerable individuals in their professional life. Contributors: Jill Aitken, David Bailey, Jennifer Burton, Caroline Cole, Jo Edwards, Michael Farquharson, Lalage Harries, Tennyson Mgutshini, Melanie Parris and Kate Potter.

This book explores the important role of parents and the extended family in the lives of babies and young children. It complements and extends the DfES Birth to Three Matters framework, which supports practitioners in working with children aged birth to three, and builds on the information provided in the companion book Birth to Three Matters: Supporting the Framework of Effective Practice (Open University Press, 2004). Written by academics, practitioners and policy makers interested or involved in the development of the Birth to Three Matters framework, this book argues that parent engagement is essential for developing partnerships within communities in order to give children the best start in life, and shows how this can be achieved. The book: Discusses ways in which services may be developed to involve parents more fully in the care and education of babies and young children Looks at the powerful role of parents and grandparents in the lives of children Considers how skilled practitioners can manage relationships to provide support for both parents and children at difficult times Explores the ways in which parents can be helped to fulfil their own needs at the same time as meeting their children’s needs Includes discussion of families whose children have special needs or disabilities Parents Matter is essential reading for early years professionals and students on courses in Early Education, as well as policy makers, professional development trainers, local authority trainers, social workers and health visitors who work with very young children.

The book will focus on three key aspects of delivery of child health services: service integration and coordination, public health measures, and enhancing the quality of care for children. Taking a child-centric view on understanding how health services and systems work the book aims to contribute towards improving children’s health through deepening the understanding of children’s health services.Focusing primarily on the western European countries the book draws on research conducted with child health leaders in ten countries: Austria, Britain, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Sweden. The chapters include clinical scenarios designed to help identify and describe the various ways in which children and their families negotiate health services when dealing with twelve different conditions. Using clinical scenarios in this way allows the book authors to capture the diverse aspects of each health system as well as assessment and analysis of the challenges involved in each, and their successes and failures.

"From Sure Start to healthy workplaces, health action zones to community regeneration, this volume makes the leap from research to action." Professor Richard Parish, Chief Executive, The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health What is public health and how has it changed over time? What is the social context of public health and what are the dominant 21st centuryissues? What strategies are in place to address population health? This important book makes a significant contribution to the emergent body of public health knowledge by examining debates around the social context of health, including key socio-economic, environmental and cultural factors. In doing so, the text locates within a social context the theoretical debates and problems surrounding public health, and analyzes the practical public health strategies and solutions that have been developed to address them. The book moves beyond traditional theoretical discourse to include coverage of: The thinking, frameworks and processes that are actively shaping public health in the 21st century Provides tangible examples of public health strategies that have recently been introduced to tackle the social determinants of health The use of media strategies to promote health Public Health is key reading for students undertaking courses in health studies, health promotion, nursing, public health, social policy, social work and sociology. In addition to a wide student readership, the book’s focus on public health action and current practice also makes it highly relevant to professionals. The text brings together a distinguished group of practitioners, social scientists and public health experts who contribute their ideas and research. Contributors: Amanda Amos, Mel Bartley, Linda Bauld, Hannah Bradby, Tarani Chandola, Jeff Collin, Paul Fleming, Colin Fudge, Sebastian Garman, Ben Gidley, Jenny Head, David Hunter, Martin King, Roderick Lawrence, Kelley Lee, Yaojun Li, Mhairi Mackenzie, Alex Marsh, Antony Morgan, Jennie Popay, Graham Scambler, Sasha Scambler, Angela Scriven, Nick Watson.