Early years and primary are often seen as very separate stages of development, although children are expected to progress from one key stage to another in a seamless way and the historical and philosophical ideas underpinning practice at the different stages are often the same or similar. To be fully effective professionals need to understand and reflect on both children’s experiences before and after the stage they are currently working in and the historical and current ideas and practice. The current drive is to equip professionals working with young children with higher level understandings and skills and this involves consideration of the key historical and current theories and the development of the conceptual and philosophical frameworks which positively impact on current practice. The strengths of this book are that it develops the necessary understandings and skills and closes the gap between professionals working together to support children holistic development. It also provides opportunities to engage in critical debate on current issues in professional practice, as identified in national and international reports and develop their skills through this engagement. It will be of benefit to a range of students on Initial Teacher Education, Education Studies and Early Childhood Studies programmes, as well as professionals working with children from birth to 11 years of age (from early career to leaders) and lecturers teaching HE courses.