People under three : play, work and learning in a childcare setting

Childcare Policy and Visions of Childhood -- The Key Person -- Planning Spaces for Living, Learning and Playing -- Babies in Day Care -- The Treasure Basket -- The Second Year of Life -- Heuristic Play with Objects -- Children in their Third Year -- Mealtimes -- Out of Doors -- Leading and Managing a Childcare Centre -- Building a Staff Team -- Bridging the Child's Two Worlds -- Safeguarding Children -- Elinor Goldschmied.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Services for young children have gone through a period of rapid transformation in recent years, which have been paralleled by great advances in our knowledge of early child development. However, care and education in the first three years of life continues to be a neglected area. Thoroughly updated to take account of key policy and practice changes in childcare provision, this landmark text translates child development theory and research into everyday practice. All the practical ideas in the book have been developed and tested in nurseries, family and children's centres and include the importance of providing opportunities for adventurous and exploratory play for babies and toddlers, understanding and responding to children's emotional needs and offering personalized and sensitive care. The book also explores different ways of working with parents and the role of early years settings and practitioners in helping to keep children safe.