"This book is written in an accessibly but authoritative style and will be a very valuable addition to any setting's professional development and staff training resources" Early Years Update, June 2012

"This book offers a unique and critical approach to the theme of adults working in early years settings through a focus on seven key dimensions encompassed in the term 'the plural practitioner'. The discussion is strongly underpinned by a consideration of the two important principles of child centredness and social justice. The authors also draw on multiple perspectives, including the role of neuroscience and socio cultural perspectives, to consider who these early years professional are and the complexity of what they bring to their work." Linda Miller, Professor Emeritus, Early Years, The Open University, UK This essential book focuses on the adult role within early years education and care. The book introduces the concept of the 'plural practitioner', which acknowledges that the role of the adult in early years settings is complex and entails many different responsibilities. The book argues that the 'plural practitioner' can create quality early years provision by implementing child-centred and socially just practices. The idea of the 'plural practitioner' is embedded in theory and research, providing a robust rationale and framework to help early years practitioners understand of a range of theories and relate them to their work with young children. The book includes: Discussion of the seven different dimensions of the adult role - to help practitioners reflect on the multiple and complex ways in which they work with young children including: The Critical Reflector, The Carer, The Communicator, The Facilitator, The Observer, The Assessor and The Creator Key questions at the end of each chapter to stimulate further reflection and reading Case study examples of real practitioner experiences The Role of the Adult in Early Years Settings will appeal to all students and practitioners either planning to or currently working in early years settings and aiming to develop their practice.

This new edition provides a comprehensive guide for safeguarding and child protection in the early years. Aimed at both students and practitioners, it offers clear insight and guidance into the legal and policy foundations for effective safeguarding practice, together with both the historical context and also more contemporary developments in safeguarding practice in the early years sector. This second edition has been fully updated to reflect current legislation and includes new material on interagency work, supporting children’s resilience and safeguarding all children. Drawing on the everyday dilemmas and experiences of early years professionals, it helps you to find solutions to both practical and moral issues in a context of legal duties and responsibilities. The chapters consider: the historical context of safeguarding and child protection the legislative framework around safeguarding and child protection safeguarding through inter-professional and multidisciplinary work the identification of neglect in early years children the consequential abuse that can occur as a result of parental behaviours safeguarding children’s health and wellbeing safeguarding as a member of a team, and the importance of communication safeguarding against the misuse of technology. Safeguarding and Protecting Children in the Early Years has been written by a multidisciplinary team of academics from a breadth of UK universities, with a wealth of experience in safeguarding and child protection, the EYFS, health visiting, social work, the police and in leading and managing services for children and families. This second edition is essential reading for anyone working with or aspiring to work with children in the early years.

This book is an accessible knowledge base for the whole area of child abuse and child protection, now fully updated in terms of policy, cases and research.

′The book gives excellent insight of current Early Years topics by covering international educational approaches and discussing the need to professionalise the sector. It is suitable for students on Early Childhood Studies programme, EYPS, and Early Years Foundation Degrees.′ - Eva Mikuska, Senior Lecturer at University of Chichester, MA, EYPS, and Programme Leader for the Foundation Degree in Early Childhood By examining how young children develop and learn from conception through to the age of eight, this book explores ways to enhance professional practice in the early years. Sections cover: - Child development (including recent research into cognitive development of babies) - The child in the socio-cultural context - International educational approaches - The developing professional. Learning Features: - Key learning points identify at a glance what each chapter will cover - Case studies help you link theory to practice - Reflective activities help you reflect on how to apply ideas to practice - Further reading directs you to additional resources to deepen your understanding. Illustrated with examples of practice from a range of settings, this accessible text is essential reading for all those studying on Early Years, Early Childhood Studies and Early Years Education and Care courses. Additional online material/support:

Drawing on research, The Baby Room considers development issues and research areas concerned with and in relation to the care and development of babies and very young children, with a focus on talk, relationships and environments.

In this stimulating and provocative book the editors have drawn together a diverse and international range of respected authors, each of whom has taken a critical approach to the contentious question of how you define and achieve quality early childhood services. It is a book designed to provoke and promote critical dialogue and discourse amongst practitioners and students through critical engagement with the position of the authors within the text. I believe anyone who reads this book will be inspired and motivated to challenge and extend their thinking and professional practice, adopting the critical stance which lies at the heart of quality services for children and families. Professor Chris Pascal, Director of Centre for Research in Early Childhood (CREC) Early childhood is a complex and important area of study where it is important to develop your critical thinking and reflect upon key issues. This book will help do both. It explores interrelated topics such as: Child development Play Safeguarding Professionalism Curriculum and Policy Each chapter will not only engage with what you need to know but help you develop your academic skills. The book also comes with lots of online resources and include: Podcasts from the authors of each chapter so you can better understand the key concepts PowerPoints to help you revise the essential information Journal articles related to each chapter provide further reading Michael Reed and Rosie Walker are both Senior Lecturers in Early Childhood at the Institute of Education, University of Worcester.

This book revisits key social issues and controversies in education. There are many social issues currently on political and governmental agendas, both in the UK and other countries – from safeguarding, childhood obesity, bullying and mental health, through to widening participation. Some of these issues relate to children and young people and are of concern to those working and researching in education, while others relate to Higher Education. The boundaries between the academic disciplines of politics, sociology, economics, psychology and education are porous. The contributions here illustrate how common interests and collaboration can assist in our understanding of complex social issues, the evaluation of current governmental responses, and the promotion of ideas about the way forward into the 21st century.

This book considers babies' development with a view to disseminating good practice in out-of-home daycare for babies and young children. It is informed by a research and development project - the Baby Room Project - which examined the practices, attitudes and qualifications of those working with the youngest children in formal daycare settings. Drawing on unique snapshots of practice and original research evidence the book considers development issues related to the care of babies and creates a ‘Baby Room Charter’. It explores key aspects of practice that nourish and support babies and very young children in day care settings as well as in other less formal arrangements. In particular, the book focuses on: Baby care professionals: how policy and practice interact is examined as well as thorny issues of professional identity, supporting frequently inexperienced practitioners, and training Relationships: the range and complexity of relationships within and around baby rooms and involving babies are considered, including practitioners’ own wellbeing Talk: this theme, which is highlighted as absolutely central to baby room practice, is fully explored with challenging evidence from practice Environments: the spaces and places within which adults and babies play, relate and relax are examined with clear recommendations for practice Essential reading for all early years students and professionals, The Baby Room celebrates the commitment, energy and care that baby room practitioners dedicate to their work. "This carefully conceived and unique book, based on an extensive research project, examines the practices and daily experiences of a range of ‘baby room’ workers and their influences upon babies and their families. The authors sensitively question the functional versus educative role of practitioners, their status as perceived by our society and their needs in relation to professional and practice development, particularly as these individuals are often those with the least experience and qualifications and lowest salaries. The authors, with their practitioner research participants, explore the many issues which underpin beliefs and practices when working and playing with babies and show clearly the need for all day nursery practitioners to be more politically aware and able to critique current policy directives for their own sakes and those of the babies in their care and their families. For those in baby rooms who feel their role is purely functional and that they are there to provide just ‘care’ for the babies, this book will make them think again." Janet Moyles, Professor Emerita, Anglia Ruskin University, UK “In their brilliant book, Drs Goouch and Powell elevate baby care and education by presenting it in all its complexities, challenging common societal perceptions that dismiss it as ‘easy,’ and thus requiring of no special skill, education, or support of its workforce. Showing tremendous respect for practitioners, the authors articulate the emotional and physical difficulties of working day-to-day in birth to three settings, and the intellectual demands inherent in implementing ‘relational pedagogies’ with babies, families, colleagues, and the community at large. The authors foreground the lived experiences of practitioners with relevant research and theory, making fully transparent the nature of their critical interpretations – a tremendous contribution to the field. The Baby Room is a must read for students, scholars, teacher educators, and policy-makers, and all who care about the rights of our youngest global citizens; an essential handbook for those interested in joining forces with the authors to help reframe the prevailing baby/teacher discourses swirling around and about, and all of us who want to get serious about addressing the attendant need to fully support the professional development and well-being of those who care for and educate our babies.” Professor Mary McMullen, School of Education, Indiana University, USA “This scholarly book will never gather dust on a shelf. It is highly readable and helpful for lead practitioners in taking forward their work in very practical ways. It will also inform policy makers and future planning about how to give babies the best start in life – a doubly good book, which it has been a treat to read.” Professor Tina Bruce CBE, University of Roehampton, UK “Babies need quality care. Knowledge about the very early stage of life from conception through early developmental milestones can be seen as a factual base for work with babies and families: there are plenty of manuals about early development and maternal or parental role. There is a rich seam of scientific papers from, for example, psychology, biology and medicine, aimed principally at others in those fields. In the field of early childhood education and care manuals also exist, however high level academic publications have been few – it is as if thinking about children’s education and care and the impact of the people around them begins at three: and indeed here there is a proliferation of work. The messages from science cannot be ignored: young human beings need the highest quality of human companionship if they are to flourish in the ways of which they are capable. The Baby Room is a stunning book. Drawing from their experience of a research and development project with Baby Room practitioners and advisory staff, Kathy Goouch and Sacha Powell have created a powerful, scholarly, challenging, highly readable and well-evidenced book focused on the out-of-home care of babies. From it we can learn so much more about the importance of having well informed, motivated and articulate people working with babies. How to be with babies and how to care, the importance of talk, the importance of being both valued and challenged are some of the key messages their writing offers to adults who work professionally and on a daily basis with babies and toddlers: but also for those who employ, support and advise them. This book provides the reader with important and essential knowledge about why experiences in babyhood matter for the rest of life, and more than that, it provokes thinking about how babies, their families and the practitioners who work with them are placed by society, by our politic and by the babycare industry. What the authors describe as the ‘constant binding thread’ of the participants’ narratives show us what needs to be done, who can take responsibility and how collectively we need to shift not only babyroom practices, but policy, training opportunities, working conditions and not least, attitudes. This book speaks to all with a passion for providing well for our youngest children: let the reader in turn use it to open the conversation locally and nationally about what matters for babies.” Aline-Wendy Dunlop, Emeritus Professor, University of Strathclyde, UK “This fascinating book does not argue for or against baby rooms, but opens up issues and shares the voices of baby room practitioners – traditionally the least qualified and most poorly paid staff in the early years sector. Goouch and Powell have listened respectfully to these voices as well as challenging and questioning what they mean for babies, settings and society. Their research is important, democratic and unsettling and should be required reading for everyone who has ever wondered about what is best for our babies.” Helen Moylett, Early Years Consultant and writer

This book provides a comprehensive guide to safeguarding and child protection in the early years. Aimed at students and practitioners it offers insight into contemporary developments in early years and safeguarding practice and sets out the legal and policy foundations for effective practice before exploring areas of contemporary concern. Drawing on the everyday dilemmas and experiences of early years professionals, the book focuses on helping you to seek solutions to both practical and moral issues in a context of legal duties and responsibilities. Covering a broad range of issues, chapters consider: how to identify physical and/or emotional neglect consequential abuse that can occur as a result of parental behaviours safeguarding children’s health & well-being safeguarding against the misuse of technology communication with parents, carers and the ‘team around the child’ alongside examples of real-life issues and consequences that have arisen when communication has broken down safeguarding as a member of a team safeguarding through inter-professional / multidisciplinary work Written by a multi-disciplinary team who have a wealth of experience in safeguarding and child protection, the early years foundation stage, health visiting, social work, the police, and in leading and managing services, this timely new text is essential reading for all those working with young children.