Developing as a Reflective Early Years Professional: A Thematic Approach

Provides an accessible yet critical approach to key themes within the early years, with a focus throughout on reflective practice.

It starts by examining theories and research into the nature of reflection, how it can be used and how it can improve practice and produce a more responsive and thoughtful, research-based workforce for young children and their families. A range of themes, including global childhood poverty, observation and assessment, leadership, and multi-professional working, are then explored, highlighting the importance and application of reflection throughout these areas of research and practice.

This new edition includes two completely new chapters on reflecting on work-based learning and reflecting on children’s play and creativity. Information on mentoring and on the position of men in early years higher education has also been added. Greater depth and challenge is provided through extended thinking questions and extended reflections at the end of each chapter.

Carol Hayes worked in early years for over 40 years as a teacher and tutor. She most recently worked at Staffordshire University as a principal lecturer and academic group leader where she helped to develop a thriving early childhood studies department with programmes from Foundation Degrees to Masters. Her specialist area is cognitive development, language, literacy and communication. Her main research interests are dyslexia and communication difficulties and graduate teaching assistants in the workforce.

Jayne Daly has worked in early years for the past 25 years as a nursery officer (NNEB), an early years manager and tutor. Throughout her professional practice she has worked within the public care, health and education sectors. Her desire to ‘give something back’ to those new to providing positive outcomes for young children and their families pushed her forward into teaching within the higher education sector at Staffordshire University. She now teaches within the early childhood studies department at the University of Wolverhampton.

Mandy Duncan began her career as a nursery nurse 15 years ago, before training as a teacher. She worked initially with young children in primary schools in both inner city and rural areas and later with young people aged 14-19 in a further education college. She has been a lecturer in higher education for the last four years teaching on BA (Hons) and MA Early Childhood Studies and BA (Hons) Childhood & Youth Studies. She is currently engaged in doctoral research with young people undergoing child protection proceedings.

Ruth Gill's experience with children started as a children’s nanny to bereaved families and progressed to working in a Further Education based nursery as an assistant. She quickly progressed to management but continued to study at HE level. Teaching in HE allows her to share her passion for quality interactions between staff and children with a wide audience of new and experienced practitioners.

Ann Whitehouse started her career as an NNEB and worked for a number of years in nursery education. More recently, she has worked as an Early Years lecturer in FE and played an integral role in developing a Foundation Degree in Early Years for experienced practitioners. Most recently she was a Senior Lecturer at Staffordshire University, working with full-time and part-time students on Early Childhood Studies programmes and Award Leader for the Foundation Degree. Her specific interests are related to the development of early years' pedagogy.