Book Reviews
Contemporary Issues in the Early Years
(5th edition)
by
Gillian Pugh and Bernadette Duffy
RRP £22.99
(Paperback published by Sage)
Available at all good book stores and also at www.sagepub.co.uk/education
The 5th edition of this book is aimed at students undertaking higher level Early Years courses and practitioners wishing to develop their knowledge of the most recent progress in Early Years, as well as the challenges facing those who work in the sector.
There are 3 main sections in the book. Part 1 looks at current policies and research, part 2 the implementation of policies in settings, and part 3 discusses workforce issues. Each of these parts is then broken down into chapters, written by some of the countries leading Early Years experts, with the EYFS in mind.
The information in part one is invaluable to anyone requiring the most up to date developments in national policy. It considers what we in Britain can learn from other countries, and how inspection and evaluation impacts on the quality of Early Years provision. Part two concentrates on the implementation of policies and looks at practice, in particular assessment, inclusion and partnerships with parents. Workforce and training issues are debated in the third part of the book, much of the focus being on multi-agency work and how we can work together to improve outcomes for children.
Each chapter ends with discussion points and suggested further reading material, giving the reader opportunity to reflect, question their understanding, and to develop it further if required. The case studies featured in some chapters give examples of how practitioners can implement practices successfully, and the challenges that they may be faced with.
Reviewed by Laurie Blockley (Early Years NVQ Assessor)
Dec 2009
