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Written for early years practitioners and students, Planning Play and the Early Years provides full-colour, fully illustrated guidance through the process of planning and providing play opportunities for children aged 0-5 years.
Planning is central to the role of any early years practitioner and involves careful consideration of resources and the learning environment, learning outcomes, observation and assessment and the unique abilities of individual children. This is a big ask and in a busy setting it can be a challenge to adopt a flexible, creative approach to planning that embraces the unexpected rather than relying on templates or existing schemes of work. This book takes a fresh look at planning to consider the possibilities that should be encouraged when playing alongside young children. It shows how a creative approach that allows for spontaneous adventures in play through child-led projects leads to rich learning experiences that build on children's own interests. Drawing on practice from Reggio Emilia, New Zealand, Scandinavia and settings in the UK, the book covers all aspects of planning including: using observations of children to enable them to lead projects; organisation of indoor and outdoor learning environments; inclusive practice; learning through risk taking and adventure play; working with parents and carers; encouraging the team to consider different ways of working. Including encounters from authentic settings and provocative questions for reflective practice, this timely new text aims to give students and practitioners the confidence to adopt a flexible approach to planning that will better meet the needs of the children in their care. The authors are experienced lecturers, practitioners, mentors and assessors. Working with students, visiting placements, training teachers and early years professionals, they provide a sense of real purpose in their writing and enjoyment in the themes made explicit throughout this book.
Making a play-based curriculum work in early years settings. Early Years practitioners have been advocating for play to be at the heart of early years for many years. Now is the time to make this a reality. Using in the moment planning, child initiated play and other strategies, this book supports early years practitioners to enable the children in their setting to choose what they do and how they want to learn. Dawn Rigby shares her passion for a play-based curriculum, her own setting′s journey, what worked and the challenges faced along the way. This practical book: shares examples of good practice; gives advice on how to make play the central focus of early years practice; explores why a play-based curriculum matters; includes practical support on developmentally appropriate practice.
Now its fourth edition, Planning an Appropriate Curriculum in the Early Years offers a comprehensive guide for early years practitioners and students on how to plan and implement a suitable curriculum for the children in an Early Years setting. It examines the key roles and responsibilities of practitioners working in Early Years settings and those with responsibility for leading and managing provision for EYFS in primary schools. Completely revised and updated in line with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, latest research evidence and OFSTED requirements, this book covers the following aspects of the Early Years including: what we mean by planning an appropriate curriculum in the early years; transition from nursery to school and into Year 1; defining quality learning and play in the early years assessment procedures and examples; integration of two-year-olds into school; the role played by parents and carers in children’s learning and development; the ways in which vulnerable children are provided for; examples of planning material developed by practitioners. With case studies of good practice and questions for reflective practice and group work, this timely fourth edition will be welcomed by students and practitioners looking to provide high quality and effective learning experiences for the under-fives.
Young children live in the here and now. If adults are to make a real difference to their learning they need to seize the moments when children first show curiosity, and support their next steps immediately. This book embraces the concept of planning "in the moment" and emphasises the critical role of the adult in promoting child-led learning, giving early years practitioners the confidence and insight to work and plan in the moment, and enabling the children in their care to live, learn, play and develop in the here and now. Planning in the Moment with Young Children maintains a strong link to practice, providing numerous examples of how practitioners can integrate spontaneous planning and rich adult–child interactions into their everyday practice and early years curricula. From timetabling to setting clear rules, creating enabling environments, keeping records and making use of a variety of materials, the book demonstrates the multitude of ways in which practitioners can encourage child autonomy and respond to the unique needs of each child. Examples from practice are rooted in theory, fully contextualised, and exemplified by original documentation sourced from the author’s own experiences and from a wide variety of settings. Key features include: over 180 full colour photographs to illustrate practice; photocopiable pages including planning sheets, documentation and activity sheets; advice on working with parents, individual children and groups; tailored guidance on working with children at different stages of development from birth to age 6 years; relevance to a range of settings, including childminders, pre-schools, nurseries and schools. When children are allowed to select where, with what, and how to play, they are truly invested in their play, they become deeply involved and make dramatic progress. This book is an outstanding testament to a responsive and child-led way of working in early years environments. Practitioners will be guided, inspired and supported to work spontaneously and reactively – planning as they go and celebrating the results!
Programming & Planning in Early Childhood Settings provides early childhood education students and practitioners with a broad view of the concepts and issues in early childhood curriculum, how to plan and program effective learning for young children and how to document children’s learning in early childhood settings. Instructor resources include instructor guide, PowerPoints, and Examples of Practice.
Practitioners need help keeping up to speed with the latest developments in the Early Years. Updated in line with current policy and practice, this new edition fully reflects the Early Years Foundation Stage themes, principles, commitments and guidance and recognises the importance of play as a context for teaching, learning and assessment. With explicit links to the EYFS learning and development grids and the early learning goals, it includes practical guidance and ideas on: creating stimulating learning environments indoors and out planning exciting focus activities and experiences responding to children's individual interests and supporting personalised learning sound observational practice and how to assess children's learning and development within the EYFS framework developing genuine partnerships with parents and learning links with home. Incorporating 'Key Points for Good Practice' within each chapter, and direct links to the EYFS 'Principles into Practice' cards as well as EYP standards, this is a key text for all practitioners working with children in the later stages of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It is also ideal for students pursuing Qualified Teacher Status in the Early Years and Early Years Professional Status, and for those enrolled in courses in Early Childhood Studies and Foundation Degrees in Early Years.
The outdoor play environment has an integral role to play in a child’s learning across the pivotal early childhood years. An outside space that is well designed allows for enriching, stimulating and challenging play experiences that meet children’s ongoing developmental needs. Early Childhood Playgrounds provides a step-by-step guide to planning, designing and creating an outdoor learning environment for young children. Written by an experienced practitioner that has consulted on over 2000 early childhood settings and schools internationally, this book considers all aspects of the outdoor learning environment and provides practical support on: planning procedures and ideas for designs; a wide variety of play within a playground through the inclusion of quiet, open and active play areas; stimulating and challenging play; a natural environment that will provide interest and sustainability; spaces for toddlers and babies; playground needs for children with additional needs. This book will be fascinating reading for those studying early childhood and practitioners looking into the ways and means of setting up, improving or expanding their outdoor play facilities. It is also geared towards other disciplines, making it an essential guide for architects and planning professionals wanting to gain a greater understanding of play and the vital role it takes in meeting children’s needs and development.
Combining a rich theoretical foundation with practical tips, advice and case studies, Messy Play in the Early Years provides an informative and practical exploration of the unique qualities, characteristics and learning possibilities of messy play. Packed with valuable insights from research and theory, along with practitioner’s experiences, this accessible book will bolster readers’ understanding and appreciation of messy play and demonstrate how a range of material engagements can enhance young children’s development and learning. Exploring an array of resources and a broad spectrum of approaches, including adult-and child-led inquiry, chapters consider how the specific sensory qualities of materials encourage problem-solving, scientific thinking, creativity, self-regulation and self-expression as children discover and make sense of new phenomena. With examples of international practice and reflective questions throughout, the book highlights a variety of approaches to meeting differing time, space and budgetary needs, simplifies preparation and planning, and empowers practitioners and children to understand and use messy play effectively. An essential guidebook to supporting an engaging and rewarding journey into messy play, Messy Play in the Early Years will be an invaluable resource for early years students, practitioners and parents looking to understand and enhance children’s learning possibilities.
This practical text supports early years students and practitioners to build confidence in planning for learning across all stages of the EYFS and in the many different contexts in which it is delivered.
