• Presents a socio-historical perspective tracing the evolution of early education in Ireland through to present day
• Analyses and critiques current early childhood policy development and implementation
• Contextualises international research findings on young children’s development and learning, the role of practitioners and the critical importance of the learning environment as applied to children’s everyday experiences and setting practice in Ireland
• Introduces the concept of a nurturing pedagogy, and explores its potential to integrate care and education in practice
• Complements other developments in the field in Ireland such as Síolta – the National Quality Framework and the National Framework for Early Learning
• Foreword written by Elly Singer (Assoc. Prof at the University of Utrecht and University of Amsterdam and leading author in the area of childcare)
• Written for those studying Early Childhood Education at degree, or postgraduate level in Institutes of Technology, Universities and some Senior Colleges
• Also suitable for students taking Primary Teaching and Montessori courses
