In this accessible and informative step-by-step guide, early years consultant Debbie Garvey provides leaders and managers with best practice tips and advice for developing their performance management skills in early years settings. Drawing on current research and the author's wealth of experience in the field, each chapter sets out effective performance management techniques that leaders can apply to their workplaces, on topics such as staff development, recruitment, appraisals, conflict management, feedback and evaluation, mentoring and coaching and health and wellbeing. Grounded in an understanding of neuroscience and brain development, this practical book provides advice on how to ensure a safe and motivational environment for both children and staff to develop, whatever their needs. Designed to support new and existing managers, the book includes reflective exercises, key theories and case studies to enable leaders to develop a style suited to their team and setting, ensuring children are given the best possible support during their first and most crucial development stage.

Understanding Behaviour in the Early Years provides information, practical suggestions and ideas that enable practitioners to take a positive approach to young children's learning about behaviour. Linked directly to the revised EYFS, this title includes practical suggestions based on sound theory and effective practice. This guide highlights the importance of working in partnership with parents to understand and support children's behavioural learning and aims to increase practitioners' confidence in supporting children's learning about behaviour. Includes chapters on: early intervention in the context of supporting behavioural learning, theoretical perspectives on behavioural learning, thinking about social learning, thinking about emotional learning, thinking about behavioural learning and using observation and analysis to develop effective strategies.

Early childhood education and care has been a political priority in England since 1997, when government finally turned its attention to this long-neglected area. Public funding has increased, policy initiatives have proliferated and at each general election political parties aim to outbid each other in their offer to families. Transforming Early Childhood in England: Towards a Democratic Education argues that, despite this attention, the system of early childhood services remains flawed and dysfunctional. National discourse is dominated by the cost and availability of childcare at the expense of holistic education, while a hotchpotch of fragmented provision staffed by a devalued workforce struggles with a culture of targets and measurement. With such deep-rooted problems, early childhood education and care in England is beyond minor improvements. In the context of austerity measures affecting many young families, transformative change is urgent.

Aiming to make Early Years management ideas easy to grasp, this series breaks down the jargon and provides accessible practical advice. As the role of a manager in Early Years becomes ever more complex and demanding, leaders must try to adapt and respond to the different pressures that constantly bombard them. Managing People and Teams in the Early Years Sector: An activity-based book helps managers and aspiring managers to explore a range of ideas and approaches to aid continued development in management skills and leadership and combat those pressures. Chris Ashman and Sue Stoodly challenge readers to develop their own views whilst learning about management theory and practice alongside the 2015 Ofsted Common Inspection and Leadership & Management frameworks. Combining clear explanations of management and leadership theories with practical guidance on every aspect of managing people from support and appraisal to safer recruitment and induction, the book features: Scenarios for reflective practice Activities to stimulate thinking and help you apply the ideas to your own experience Figures and diagrams to exemplify key points, ‘Management Health Warnings’ to highlight key messages This fully updated second edition is essential reading for those new to management or looking to develop their career into a managerial role and students working towards level 3 qualifications or a Foundation Degree.

Developing Professional Practice 0-7 provides a thoroughly comprehensive and cutting edge guide to developing the understanding and practical skills necessary for working within early years education. The new edition is fully updated for the revised Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework. The updated edition covers all core topics associated with developing effective professional practice, including leadership and management, personalised learning and continuing professional development. There is also a strong focus on parent/carer engagement, setting accountability for the lowest attaining groups, the parent/carer and child voice in education, transition, SEND reform, early intervention, and developing leadership at all levels including as a business model. Readers can explore in-depth issues, and take ownership of them, by applying theory to real practice in schools and early years settings. Chapter contents are directly linked to the Early Years Teacher Standards, providing a clear understanding of how the content relates to competencies and allowing readers to reflect critically on best practice. Discussion points and case studies further connect theory to practice and offer a genuinely accessible and engaging introduction to supporting the education of babies, toddlers and young children. This vibrant, dynamic and interactive approach uses examples of real practice, along with a range of additional features tailored to support the reader in developing their knowledge, skills and understanding. Developing Professional Practice 0-7 is essential reading for anyone training to work in the early years, and an invaluable resource for all those already in the early stages of their careers.

This accessible guide introduces neuroscience, demystifying terminology and language and increasing the knowledge, skills and, importantly, confidence of anyone interested in brain development in early childhood. Practical and reflective chapters highlight the multi-faceted role of adults as ‘brain builders’ and encourage the reader to consider how the environment, play and interactions are crucially interlinked. The book considers cutting-edge science and introduces this in an accessible way to look at a range of ways that adults can support children, exploring: how poverty, adversity, and social, emotional and mental health all influence the developing child the science behind play, and why it is so important for young children how we can take ideas from different disciplines such as psychology and anthropology and interweave these with the overarching research of neuroscience why adult interaction (both practitioner and parent/carer) with children is crucial for the developing brain the importance of reflective practice to encourage readers to consider their actions and develop their understanding of important topics raised in the book. With a wealth of case studies and reflective practices weaving throughout, readers will be encouraged and empowered to pause and consider their own practice. Little Brains Matter will be essential reading for anyone interested in early childhood development.

The foundation stage has a fundamental role in the laying of foundations for children's learning. In this new edition the author uses a wide range of material, including research evidence, to offer an additional dimension to work currently taking place in the Foundation Stage. Each chapter includes the 'early learning goals' for the majority of children and advice on providing for each area of learning: personal, social and emotional development, language and literacy, mathematics, knowledge and understanding of the world, and physical and creative development. Students training to be specialist early years teachers and those already working in the sector will welcome this up-to-date guide to planning and providing for high quality learning experiences for children under five. With case studies of good practice, practical help in writing an early years policy and guidance on assessment and devising an effective post-inspection plan, this is a truly comprehensive guide to planning and implementing an appropriate curriculum for the under fives.

The Early Years Handbook for Students and Practitioners is a comprehensive and accessible course text for all students studying at levels 4 and 5, including on Foundation Degrees and Early Childhood Studies degrees. Designed and written by the Chair of the SEFDEY (Sector-Endorsed Foundation Degree in Early Years) Network and a team of expert contributors, this book covers the essential skills, knowledge and understanding you need to become an inspiring and effective early years practitioner. Divided into four parts: The Student-Practitioner-Professional; The Learning and Development of Children 0-5; The Child, Family and Society; and The Senior Practitioner-Professional, the book covers all aspects of working with young children and engages you with theory that is explicitly linked to your practice. Throughout there is a strong emphasis on supporting your transition to undergraduate study, developing your academic skills and encouraging you to be an active learner. In every chapter, the book seeks to help you develop your professional identity and features: Activities to help you to reflect on your own practice ‘Provocations’ to promote discussion and debate Case study examples and photographs to illustrate key points ‘From Research to Practice’ boxes outlining key research in the field and implications for practice. The book is supported by a companion website featuring, for students, links to useful websites and video material, and an interactive flashcard glossary. Online support for lecturers includes ideas for tasks and activities to use in class and the diagrams and images in the book available to download.

The Early Years Handbook for Students and Practitioners is a comprehensive and accessible course text for all degree level students undertaking programmes related to early years and childhood studies. Designed and written by the SEFDEY Professional Association and a team of new expert contributors, this text provides a balanced approach to the subjects discussed and encourages you to consider and challenge perceptions of early years and to promote good professional practice. This edition has been extended to cover the learning and development of children from birth to 8 years and features new chapters on research, risk, neuroscience, the environment and more. Divided into four parts - The Student-Practitioner-Professional; The Learning and Development of Children 0-8; The Child, Family and Society; and The Senior Practitioner-Professional - the book covers all aspects of working with young children and engages you with theory that is explicitly linked to your practice. In each chapter, the book seeks to help you develop your professional identity and includes: Activities to help you to reflect on your own practice Debates and dilemmas to promote discussion between students and colleagues Real-life case studies and photographs to illustrate key points Extended "reflective thinking" boxes outlining key research in the field and implications for practice Suggestions for key projects to help those looking for research topics The book is supported by a companion website featuring, for students, links to useful websites and video material, and an interactive flashcard glossary. Online support for lecturers includes ideas for tasks and activities to use in class and the diagrams and images in the book available to download.

With Ofsted’s inspectors raising the bar for quality of teaching and learning in the early years, and the additional level of scrutiny on leadership and management, every practitioner must ensure they have in place a systematic monitoring and evaluation process to regularly assess the effectiveness of their provision. Managers need to be able to demonstrate that staff know why they do what they do, and that the services they provide makes a demonstrable difference to the children. This book shows how to construct a robust monitoring and evaluation framework and provides leaders and managers with an invaluable tool to observe, record and maintain the quality of their provision.