Developing Reflective Practice in the Early Years

Reflective practice is a vital aspect of working with young children and enables a deeper understanding of their learning and development. Whilst there is a long tradition among early childhood practitioners of closely observing children’s learning so as to nurture and stimulate their development, they are increasingly expected to reflect on their own practice in a variety of ways, in order to enhance their professional development and improve their practice.

This book supports early years practitioners in articulating and understanding their own practice in greater depth, exploring some ways in which they can be encouraged to engage in reflecting on their practice. The book will help early years practitioners develop their reflective skills, enabling them to confidently articulate their practice, values and beliefs.

It offers opportunities to reflect on how theory, research and policy relate to distinct understandings of children’s development and learning. By exploring different ways of understanding their own practice and linking this with theory and policy, practitioners are enabled to think about ways of improving their practice.

Developing Reflective Practice in the Early Years is essential reading for all early years practitioners working in early years settings for children aged 0-8 years, including nurseries, children’s centres and schools.

Contributors: Naima Browne, Anna Craft, Michael Craft, Caroline Jones, Alice Paige-Smith, Linda Pound, Michael Reed, Jonathan Rix, Elizabeth Wood.

Alice Paige-Smith is a lecturer in Early Years Education in the Centre for Curriculum and Teaching Studies at The Open University, UK.

Anna Craft is Professor of Education at the University of Exeter and at The Open University, both in the UK.