This accessible guide to child development is written specifically for students of degrees and foundation degrees in Early Years, Early Childhood Studies and related disciplines and for early years practitioners. It introduces the context of child development, how we can develop an understanding of this development and how early years practitioners can support this in practice. It considers the biological/social debate, explores holistic development, examines factors affecting development and includes a chapter on reflective practice.

This second edition has been updated to include new guidance for the revised Early Years Foundation Stage. It covers the development check at age two and looks in detail at how a learning of child development relates to early years practice. This edition also includes a new chapter introducing a critique of developmentalism. Throughout, new case studies have been included and interactive activites have been enhanced.

About the Early Years series

This series has been designed to support students of degrees and foundation degrees in Early Years, Early Childhood and related disciplines. Each text takes a focused look at a specific topic and approaches it in an accessible and user-friendly way. Learning features help readers engage with the text and understanding the subject from a number of different viewpoints. Activities pose questions to prompt thought and discussion and further reading suggestions, including useful websites, are included to help students access extended learning in each topic.

Other titles in the series include Early Childhood Studies, Childhood and Society for the Early Years and Exploring Play for Early Childhood Studies.

Sally Neaum is a lecturer in Early Childhood, and teaches primary English in initial teacher training. She ahs worked a s a nursery and primary school teacher and as an advisor in early years and inclusion. She has an M.Ed in Educational Psychology and Special Educational Needs and her doctoral research was in the pedagogy of early literacy.