This book provides a critical insight into comparative approaches to the professional learning and development of early years educators – taken to include all those working in a professional capacity with young children in educative settings, including home-based care and education. It also analyses leadership development for the early years workforce, and the evaluation of the success or otherwise of professional development initiatives involving early years educators. The book includes perspectives on relevant policy development at local and national levels and critical consideration of research literature on the effectiveness of professional development programmes for early years educators. The book is essential reading for professionals working in early years settings, for those engaged with the professional learning of early years educators, and for academics researching professionalism in early years education. It provides international perspectives on the professional learning and development of those working in early years education. This book was originally published as a special issue of the journal Professional Development in Education.

This book provides a global overview of developments and discussion around the evaluation of quality of early childhood education environments, and the professional development of early childhood teachers, during the last decade. It reports on the Early Change project, a European-funded research project with the participation of six European countries: Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Portugal, and Romania; and offers an in-depth view on the perspectives of early childhood teachers regarding their professional development and the quality of early childhood education environment. Additionally, it discusses the policies and educational framework supporting the professional development of early childhood teachers across Europe. Finally, it proposes an alternative way to integrate the use of observational rating scales of early childhood education environments’ quality in teachers’ professional development. Presenting up-to-date scholarly research on global trends, this is an easily accessible, practical, yet scholarly source of information for researchers, policy makers and practitioners.

Master the knowledge and skills you need for the new classroom-based CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator) qualification. Written by expert Carolyn Meggitt, this is the only textbook for classroom-based learners endorsed by CACHE for the qualification. As ever, Meggitt's approachable writing style makes learning the key concepts both easy and enjoyable, and you can be sure she provides you with the information you need for your course. This book will support you through your assessment and the start of your career. - Understand all the requirements of the new qualification fully with clearly stated learning outcomes and key terms - See how concepts are applied in real settings with numerous case studies - Demonstrate what you've learned with activity boxes which give you the opportunity to check your understanding and apply it in the work setting - Prepare for examinations and assessment with confidence via activities linked to assessment criteria

Develop your understanding and skills with this textbook endorsed by CACHE for the new qualification. Written by Carolyn Meggitt, who is an expert in making key concepts easy for learners to understand, this comprehensive introduction will help you earn your qualification and progress to Level 3. -Includes case studies and lots of photographs to show you what really happens in actual settings -Organises all information in a way which makes things easy to read -Prepares you for assessment by linking activities to criteria -Prompts you to reflect on your own experiences at key points throughout the book

This book explores the impact of neoliberalism on education in the UK. Drawing on policies across the sector in England as a case study, the author illuminates and analyses the development of neoliberal policy on models of practice. The author explores the theory and philosophy that have come to define neoliberalism, and offers an explanation as to how this has been applied to the education sector in England at various different stages. Informed and scaffolded by years of empirical research in educational contexts, this book interrogates the impact of neoliberalism on educational practice. It will be of interest and value to scholars of neoliberalism and education, as well as practitioners.

This is the eighth edition of the four-yearly review of mathematics education research in Australasia. Commissioned by the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA), this review critiques the most current Australasian research in mathematics education in the four years from 2008-2011. The main objective of this review is to celebrate and recognise significant findings; highlight relationships between research; identify themes; and forecast further research directions. This theme-based review has produced a comprehensive analysis of Australasian research in a politically challenging time—producing a manuscript with implications for a wider, international, audience. As the 2009 Felix Klein medal winner Gilah Leder states: A substantial body of research is captured in the chapters of this review. It encompasses the labours of a community of active researchers, with varied interests and diverse theoretical perspectives. Some of the issues explored in the period covered by this volume clearly resonate with questions and concerns particularly pertinent to the changing educational environment; others are more aptly described as continuing or renewed explorations of areas of long standing concern.

Contains additions to and changes in the general and permanent laws of the United States enacted during the 108th Congress, 1st Session.

This comprehensive handbook synthesizes the best current knowledge on teacher professional development (PD) and addresses practical issues in implementation. Leading authorities describe innovative practices that are being used in schools, emphasizing the value of PD that is instructive, reflective, active, collaborative, and substantive. Strategies for creating, measuring, and sustaining successful programs are presented. The book explores the relationship of PD to adult learning theory, school leadership, district and state policy, the growth of professional learning communities, and the Common Core State Standards. Each chapter concludes with thought-provoking discussion questions. The appendix provides eight illuminating case studies of PD initiatives in diverse schools.

Rich clinical preparation combined with progressive experiences in professional development school (PDS) settings are proposed to bring about systemic and impactful transformation of educator preparation and professional growth in order to improve and enhance P-12 student learning. In this book, diverse authors describe their efforts to forge PDS partnerships to develop and deliver high quality training and practical experiences for candidates, and simultaneously provide professional development for experienced practitioners in ways that mirror recommendations found in authoritative reports and literature. The authors’ collective wisdom is vividly captured in the multi-voiced chapters that are collaborations between cooperating teachers, school administrators, county and district level administrators, university supervisors, and instructional faculty. The contexts authors write about are recognizable, and the accomplishments they experienced and challenges faced will resonate with institutions courageously undertaking change or renewal. The book will be invaluable to school and university faculty and administrators as they transition to a partnering model of clinical preparation for teacher candidates: it will help stakeholders decide if their schools and institutions are ready to commit to a partnership, and highlight the benefits they stand to gain, but realistically address challenges that may be faced by administrators and faculties as well as teacher candidates in the PDS enterprise.