Child development for early years students and practitioners / Sally Neaum.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Section 1 Early childhood context and policy -- 1. Children and childhood: a historical perspective -- 2. The current policy context of early years -- Section 2 Children's development -- 3. Holistic development -- 4. Children's development -- 5. Development in the early years foundation stage -- 6. Factors affecting children's learning and development -- Section 3 Applying child development in practice -- 7. Supporting children's learning and development -- 8. Observing and assessing children's learning and development -- Section 4 Enhancing practice and understanding -- 9. Reflecting on children's learning and development -- 10. Starting from the child: matching provision to children's development and learning needs -- 11. Thinking, questioning and challenging: a critical approach to the early years.

This accessible guide to child development is for students of degrees and foundation degrees in Early Years, Early Childhood Studies and related disciplines and for early years practitioners. Introduces the context of child development. Develops an understanding of development and of how early years practitioners can support this. Explores the biological/social debate, and the importance of holistic development. Examines factors affecting development and includes a chapter on reflective practice. Considers the complexity of children′s development and argues that is is not always a straight forward progression. This fifth edition: is updated in line with the new EYFS and the updated Development Matters; is updated to include child development learning from 0-8; includes up-to-date guidance on assessment processes in the Early Years; includes a new section with key knowledge on well known theories of child development. Publisher's description.