This is a book about the process of finding user-friendly and purposeful ways of observing and planning that will help those who are working with young children in a variety of settings to look with insight at children, providing what they need in order to develop and learn optimally. By examining the historic background of observing and planning, and describing examples of good practice in different group settings, this book will help to monitor a child's progress - what is needed now and to work out what is needed next.

The real life case studies from various settings including day care, nursery school, primary school, private sector and Soweto examine different observation techniques, looking at their strengths, drawbacks and use in everyday practice. Examples from the UK and internationally illustrate the history and importance of observation in a range of contexts, while a glossary clearly explains the key terminology. All the examples given in this book can be used with different National Framework documents worldwide, bearing in mind however the authors' belief that curriculum frameworks must be used as a resource and never as a limiting straitjacket.

Drawing on key theory and research, the book's chapters cover:

• Flexible planning
• Record keeping
• Working with parents
• Using technology.

Full colour photographs, illustrations and useful charts and diagrams make this an accessible and engaging resource that will no doubt be invaluable to any early years practitioner. This book was originally published as Getting to Know You - part of the 0-8 series.

About the Author
Professor Tina Bruce CBE is an Honorary Visiting Professor in Early Childhood at the University of Roehampton. Dr Stella Louis is a freelance early years consultant. She originally trained as a NNEB nursery nurse and has taught on the NNEB specialising in observations, Stella has thirty four years' experience of working with children and families. For the last ten years she has been involved in training educators and is particularly interested in observation and its part in supporting learning, development and teaching. Currently Stella leads a small team of Froebelian travelling tutors in promoting, developing and delivering the Froebel Trust Short Courses in the United Kingdom. Stella is author of numerous books and articles including Observing Young Children (Sage), Understanding Schemas in Young Children (Bloomsbury) and How to use Group Supervision to Improve Early Years Practice (Routledge). Stella has worked both in the United Kingdom and internationally, in South Africa, where she worked with teachers to develop a Froebelian approach to teaching and learning. For the last eight years Stella has been the lead trainer in a project led by Professor Tina Bruce in Kliptown, Soweto South Africa. Stella has extensive experience working with children and their families in England, South Africa and Australia.

Reviews

'This is a timely new book, which a wide range of early years practitioners will find accessible. I strongly support its principled focus on working collaboratively with families, the way it values children's experiences, and its practical suggestions for developing high-quality, manageable systems to record assessments. I look forward to using this book with newly-qualified and more experienced staff.'

-- Dr Julian Grenier

The Froebel Trust warmly welcomes the publication of "Observing Young Children". Admirably clear and eminently practical, the book is under-pinned and suffused with Froebel's principles and demonstrates their application to the central skill of observation to the benefit of both practitioners and parents.

-- Duncan H Jackman



Book Information
ISBN 9781446285817
Author Tina Bruce
Format Paperback
Page Count 176
Imprint Sage Publications Ltd
Publisher Sage Publications Ltd
Weight(grams) 330g