Book Reviews
Encouraging Positive Behaviour in the Early Years
by
Collette Drifte
RRP £21.99
(Paperback published by Sage)
Available at all good book stores and also at www.sagepub.co.uk/education
The book is easy reading and aimed at all practitioners within an early years setting.
The observation techniques are easy to use and implement. The follow up activities aid the practitioners in their support for the child’s positive behaviour development. The book offers advice on how to write Individual Learning Plans and writing up the forms. We actually used some examples to prepare a behaviour plan which we found useful. The book includes photocopiable resources which prompts practitioners to develop plans/observations. The sample letters are helpful and reminds the readerabout the importance of informing the family every step through the process and seeking their input.
The CD Rom also contains the photocopiable resources as well as extracts from the book. The main role of the CD Rom is for readers who prefer reading through this medium. The book leads the reader through the conception of a positive behaviour policy up to how to put it into practice. The information is clear and thought provoking. The scenarios make the practitioner question their own views on how we perceive a child’s behaviour through observations. A glossary of some educational acronyms aid the reader, as well as references and further reading after each chapter. Short quizzes allow more understanding of the subject matter.
The whole book would be useful as a refresher course to enable practitioners who do not come across significant behaviour problems on a regular basis in the course of their work. It is a well resourced book that will also assist newly qualified practitioners/Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators to undertake and understand the importance of IEP/Behaviour plans and issues.
Review by Pru Mead and Kim Flowers (Early Years Practitioners)
Feb 2009
