This new edition of this bestselling textbook examines the key themes involved in the study of young children and childhood from a variety of disciplines and international perspectives, making essential links between theory and practice to help you apply your learning in real-life settings.

Key additions include:

• the latest changes in early years policy
• 2 brand new chapters on Postmodernist theories in Education, and Education for Sustainable Development
• A renewed emphasis on reflective practice across Part 4, supporting and encouraging your professional development

Throughout, case studies, exercises and links to further reading help you engage with key issues and test your learning, making it easier for you to get to grips with all aspects of your course.

This is a comprehensive, thought-provoking book which presents the views of a wide range of expert contributors. It provides sound overviews of the fundamental theoretical perspectives which underpin early childhood studies, but also delivers insights and observations about 21st century issues such as globalisation and sustainability. Alongside the theoretical contexts there is also recognition of the role of the practitioner and the challenges and opportunities associated with that.This range and diversity of content makes the book an excellent choice for students on undergraduate and postgraduate courses who are looking for content that will develop their knowledge and understanding and promote their ability to engage critically with relevant contemporary issues. -- Jane Dorrian

This outstanding book illustrates effectively the multi-disciplinarity of the field of Early Childhood Studies. Capturing a breadth of fundamental themes through a scholarly and systematic approach, the chapters are well-structured and provide rich sources of information. The authors of the book make the concepts, theories, implications to policy and practice approachable and comprehensive, emphasising local and global trends.

This book makes a unique contribution to Early Childhood Studies and readers are encouraged to find out about contemporary issues through political, social, psychological and pedagogical perspectives. I will be recommending this book to students on Early Childhood programmes.

Sacha Powell is Director of Education, Research and Strategy at The Froebel Trust (www.froebel.org.uk). Her research focuses on policies and practices in the care and education of babies and children up to three. Her recent publications include the Routledge International Handbook of Philosophies and Theories of Early Childhood Education and Care (2016). Sacha is Chair of the UK’s Association for Professional Development in Early Years (www.tactyc.org.uk). Her first degree was in Modern Chinese with Japanese and she continues to collaborate with colleagues in early childhood settings, universities and local education bureaus in China. Dr Kate Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Early Childhood Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University. She currently leads modules on language and literacy and supervises post-graduate and research students. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy she has led employment based undergraduate programmes and travelled to Sweden, Finland and Norway as part of her university role. Kate’s PhD explored young children’s writing activity in their first year of school. She continues to research this area and has written a number of articles about young children’s literacy. Before lecturing she was a primary teacher working with children aged 3-7 in London and Kent schools with whole-school responsibility for Literacy and Art. Kate’s work with school’s continues in her role as a Director of a Multi Academy Trust in Kent. She is co-editor of An Introduction to Early Childhood (2018) and has recently contributed to the Birth to Five Matters documentation. She is a member of UKLA and BERA.