Short description:

This user-friendly book will offer you suggested strategies and sensible advice, based on what is realistic and achievable in practice.

Long description:

`It is an easy read, and a really useful resource for all levels of early years staff, focusing on key areas such as social, language and self-esteem skills in young children. It is particularly useful, too, for anyone working in early years education who has no care experience' - Sure Start

`there is much to draw on, especially references to the language that practitioners use, the importance of being reflective and conflict being seen as an opportunity for learning. This book? can be a useful reference for practitioners and Level 2/3 tutors to dip into' - Under 5

`This book will be invaluable for anyone wishing to improve or update their understanding of children's social and behavioural learning - whether experienced or newly qualified practitioners' - Early Education

`This book would be a valuable training aid for those who deliver social and behavioural training in the early years' - Nursery World

Do you need to help the young children in your care improve their social, emotional and behavioural skills? This user-friendly book will offer you suggested strategies and sensible advice, based on what is realistic and achievable in practice.

The book offers guidance on the following:

} social skills

} language skills

} self-esteem

} offering both education and care within the OfSTED Framework

} implementing relevant government legislation (Birth to Three Matters, the Foundation Stage Curriculum, the revised SEN Code of Practice, the Disability Discrimination Act)

} delivering training - trainers' notes and photocopiable resources are included.

Class teachers, nursery managers, playgroup workers, SENCOs, EYDCPs, early years students and every professional working with young children aged from 0 to five years in an education and care context will find this book useful.

`there is much to draw on, especially references to the language that practitioners use, the importance of being reflective and conflict being seen as an opportunity for learning. This book? can be a useful reference for practitioners and Level 2/3 tutors to dip into' - Under 5

`This book will be invaluable for anyone wishing to improve or update their understanding of children's social and behavioural learning - whether experienced or newly qualified practitioners' - Early Education

'This book will be invaluable for all those wishing to improve or update their understanding of children's social and behavioural learning, whether experienced or newly qualified practitioners. It can be used as a training resource either for individuals or groups (there is an easy to use training sessions at the end of each chapter.) Time is taken to explain the need for adults as well as children to be given a safe forum in which to share thinking and ideas. They are described as having similar difficulties and fears to those of the children and, sometimes, the same low self-esteem.

References to the importance of high quality of adult child interaction occur throughout the book and good practice in this area is clearly identified and outlined, particularly the need to recognise and work with children in a shared learning environment as 'learning companions' in a

'professional respectful relationship' The book gives a positive up beat picture of the role of the professional, with no place for those who are not excited and 'joyful' at the prospect of supporting children on 'their journey through the day.'

The book outlines some skills and strategies for helping children such as 'can do' plans and breaking down tasks into small steps, and suggests that we, as adult learners, can do this too' - Meg Marshall, Training Manager, Early Education