Developing Reflective Practice in the Early Years

by Alice Paige-Smith, Anna Craft

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

216 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2007

Reviews

[Applied Social Studies Bedford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is available as an ebook via the University of Bedfordshire Library Catalogue at: http://library.beds.ac.uk/record=b150...
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Reflective practice is a vital aspect of working with young children and enables a deeper understanding of their learning and development. 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 also 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 ways in which they can be encouraged to engage in reflecting on their practice. The authors introduce ideas around creativity, inclusion, children's well being, partnership with parents and multidisciplinary team working, which will enable you to develop and explore the role of the early years' practitioner in further detail. This second edition is refreshed and expanded to include: updated and revised throughout to reflect latest policy changes and documents; the role of the early years professional Reference to Children's Plan and Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for Children's Work Force; new reflective questions and extended case studies; and, reference to safeguarding and child protection through joint-working. "Developing Reflective Practice in the Early Years, second edition", 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. It includes contributors such as: Naima Browne (freelance early years consultant), Anna Craft (University of Exeter & Open University), Michael Craft (an experienced public health and health promotion professional), Caroline Jones (consultant, University of Warwick), Alice Paige-Smith (Open University), Linda Pound (assessor for the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership), Michael Reed (University of Worcester), Jonathan Rix (Open University) and Elizabeth Wood (University of Exeter).