Starting from the Child Teaching and Learning from 4 - 8 [Paperback]

Starting from the Childsupports early years practitioners to be advocates for young children and their learning needs. In the fourth edition of this highly influential and inspirational book, Julie Fisher outlines the important theories and research which should underpin best early years practice. She takes a robust and principled stand against downward pressure to formalise young children’s learning too soon, and offers practical and meaningful ways to develop high quality learning and teaching in the early years.

Starting from the Childchallenges all early years practitioners to consider:

• How to build on children’s innate desire to learn and their competence and autonomy as effective early learners
• How to plan environments indoors and out that make learning irresistible
• How to plan for high quality child-initiated learning to take place seamlessly alongside learning that is adult-initiated
• The role of the adult in supporting and extending young children’s learning
• How daily observation of children informs and underpins planning for their individual and unique learning needs

Revised and updated throughout, this fourth edition includes the latest research on early brain development and reference to recent government initiatives including the revised Early Years Foundation Stage.

Starting from the Childis essential reading, not only for early years practitioners, but for all those who manage and make decisions about early learning.

“In the fourth edition of this book, Julie Fisher once again demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the history of early childhood education, and the enduring principles that continue to underpin practice. She has skilfully blended these principles with contemporary research and theory in order to provide readers with deep understanding of young children as capable, competent and eager learners. Julie draws on her extensive work with practitioners to prelS(