Facilitating Children's Learning in the EYFS


Book Description

This book offers in-depth insights into the revised Early Years Foundation Stage. It provides a broad exploration of the changes in the EYFS and considers how the revised EYFS framework creates both a context for learning and the basis of a curriculum for children from birth to five in early years settings. Focusing on practice, it considers a range of issues arising from the revised EYFS, including the rationale behind the new prime and specific areas of learning, and the new key themes of school readiness and engaging parents. Although the EYFS is a helpful framework for thinking about the relationship between the child, the environment, and learning and teaching at the most significant time in a young child's life, there is limited guidance on how the principles of the EYFS and the areas of learning and development can be put into practice. So if you're looking for further support and guidance on EYFS then this book is the book for you! Key features include: Up-to-date coverage and insight into the revised EYFS Delightful and detailed case studies that help link theory and practice Tips for effective practice Ways to develop teaching and learning appropriately and sensitively in tune with the needs of babies and young children This is essential reading for students who are entering the early years profession as well as for more experienced practitioners. "Ann Langston is one of the most insightful and refreshing writers on early years in the country. In this wonderful book her experience and passion for the EYFS, and for learning and teaching that maximises the life chances of all children, shines powerfully through. This is a tour de force: offering scope and depth in an engaging and informing writing style peppered with fascinating real life vignettes. She begins with principles and ends with a vision for the future. A 'must have' for all those who are privileged to work with young children." Dr Jonathan Doherty, Head of Early Years & Childhood Studies, Faculty of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK "The book provides insightful discussions and examples of practice for working with children birth-five. Topical issues such as liaison with parents or school readiness give pertinent pointers for reflections." Dr Pat Beckley, Bishop Grosseteste University, UK




Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8


Book Description

Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Despite the fact that they share the same objective - to nurture young children and secure their future success - the various practitioners who contribute to the care and the education of children from birth through age 8 are not acknowledged as a workforce unified by the common knowledge and competencies needed to do their jobs well. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 explores the science of child development, particularly looking at implications for the professionals who work with children. This report examines the current capacities and practices of the workforce, the settings in which they work, the policies and infrastructure that set qualifications and provide professional learning, and the government agencies and other funders who support and oversee these systems. This book then makes recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals. These detailed recommendations create a blueprint for action that builds on a unifying foundation of child development and early learning, shared knowledge and competencies for care and education professionals, and principles for effective professional learning. Young children thrive and learn best when they have secure, positive relationships with adults who are knowledgeable about how to support their development and learning and are responsive to their individual progress. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 offers guidance on system changes to improve the quality of professional practice, specific actions to improve professional learning systems and workforce development, and research to continue to build the knowledge base in ways that will directly advance and inform future actions. The recommendations of this book provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the care and the education that children receive, and ultimately improve outcomes for children.




Play and Practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage


Book Description

Play is an underlying theme of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) but it is often a challenge for practitioners to provide a play based curriculum. This book investigates the values and beliefs that underpin play and demonstrates through case studies how play opportunities can be observed, planned and assessed in a meaningful context for the child. Organized into four sections that mirror the EYFS, this book takes you through the curriculum framework demonstrating how play underpins each of these principles and is the common thread that links them together. Chapters include: - celebrating children′s play choices - ways to work with parents - inspiring environments for inspirational play - the role of play in supporting key relationships - creative play for flexible learning Incorporating the voices of Early Years practitioners, this book takes the unique approach of analysing the academic theory, showing how this can be put into practice and then suggesting activities to facilitate reflective practice and professional development. Useful to all those studying on any Early Years course, the book is particularly relevant to those leading practice in early years settings and those working towards Early Years Professional Status (EYPS).




The Early Years Matter


Book Description

This accessible and enaging work introduces current and future teachers, child care providers, and others interested in early childhood education to the importance for the early years in children's well-being and success. It summarizes their research on the value of high-quality services for young children, families, and society, showing why early education matters both today and into the future. Emphasizing the need to understand and respect young children's strengths and unique characteristics, the authors offer inspiration for working in the field, as well as addressing the realistic challenges of implementing developmentally appropriate care and education.




Understanding Physical Development in the Early Years


Book Description

Understanding Physical Development in the Early Years provides an accessible introduction to the current research and thinking in this area alongside descriptions of everyday practice. It explores the kinds of activities and experiences that promote physical development and offers practical guidance on how these can be facilitated. Physical development plays a crucial role in young children’s learning, behaviour and emotional health and is now recognised as a prime area in the revised Early Years Foundation Stage. It is therefore essential that those working in the early years sector provide children with a wide range of opportunities for movement and sensory experiences. Drawing on current legislation and the requirements of the EYFS, the book covers all aspects of physical development and includes: • reflection tasks, summaries and impact on practice sections; • guidance on issues that can cause concern such as health and safety, rough and tumble play, gender and the effective use of indoor and outdoor space; • advice on the role of the practitioner and ideas for working with parents and families; • information on the different stages of physical development. Written by leading consultants, this book will be essential reading for early years students and practitioners that want to fully understand young children’s physical development and provide opportunities that nourish children’s overall learning and physical and emotional wellbeing.




Purposeful Play


Book Description

Play is serious business. Whether it's reenacting a favorite book (comprehension and close reading), negotiating the rules for a game (speaking and listening), or collaborating over building blocks (college and career readiness and STEM), Kristi Mraz, Alison Porcelli, and Cheryl Tyler see every day how play helps students reach standards and goals in ways that in-their-seat instruction alone can't do. And not just during playtimes. "We believe there is play in work and work in play," they write. "It helps to have practical ways to carry that mindset into all aspects of the curriculum." In Purposeful Play, they share ways to: optimize and balance different types of play to deepen regular classroom learning teach into play to foster social-emotional skills and a growth mindset bring the impact of play into all your lessons across the day. "We believe that play is one type of environment where children can be rigorous in their learning," Kristi, Alison, and Cheryl write. So they provide a host of lessons, suggestions for classroom setups, helpful tools and charts, curriculum connections, teaching points, and teaching language to help you foster mature play that makes every moment in your classroom instructional. Play doesn't only happen when work is over. Children show us time and time again that play is the way they work. In Purposeful Play, you'll find research-driven methods for making play an engine for rigorous learning in your classroom.




Child Centred Planning in the Early Years Foundation Stage


Book Description

This practical text supports early years students and practitioners to build confidence in planning for learning across all stages of the EYFS and in the many different contexts in which it is delivered.




School Readiness and the Characteristics of Effective Learning


Book Description

This guide to understanding school readiness in young children is essential reading for early years practitioners. It explores the concept of school readiness by unpicking what the term means for children and how we can define it in the context of the characteristics of effective learning. This includes ideas for promoting playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically. The book also considers how we can ensure schools are ready to receive children and suggests ways in which preschools and nurseries can work collaboratively with schools and engage parents and carers to ensure a smooth transition.




Theories and Approaches to Learning in the Early Years


Book Description

By focusing on key figures in early years education and care, this book considers the influential thinkers and ground-breaking approaches that have revolutionized practice. With contributions from the leading authorities and researchers in the field, chapters provide an explanation of the approach, an analysis of the theoretical background, case studies from practice and questions and discussion points to facilitate critical thinking. Written in an accessible style and relevant to all levels of early years courses, from undergraduate to graduate degrees, the book asks the reader to engage with debates and to develop their own views and opinions.




Play at the Center of the Curriculum


Book Description

The leading text in the field-- Theory and practice combine to help teachers put play at the center of a balanced curriculum. This widely used resource seamlessly combines the features of a text on play and development with the features of an early childhood curriculum text to present a comprehensive, cogent rationale for placing play at the center of a balanced curriculum. The leading text in the field, Play at the Center of the Curriculum is ideal for those who want to engage children in a developmental zone where children and teachers are learning from and with each other. The authors put play at the center of a balanced curriculum that includes spontaneous, guided, and directed play as well as teacher planned instruction. They describe how knowledgeable teachers use a wide repertoire of strategies to orchestrate the flow from spontaneous play to guided play, to more subject oriented instruction, and back to play. This thoroughly updated Sixth Edition interweaves anecdotes of children's play, theories of play and development, empirical evidence from research, and practical instructional strategies to give students a clear look at play and the curriculum. This text provides the ideal teaching and learning experience. Here's why: Carefully written and coordinated chapter features enhance student learning. A blend of "how-to" and theory, plus extensive updates in each new edition make this both a current and a classic text on play that includes all children. Readers are immersed in the experiences of real classrooms through anecdotes and numerous vignettes. The interests of today's students are addressed, from violent play and bullying to children and nature, to enriching the outdoor classroom.