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New publication offers support to practitioners in promoting learning and development

NEWS RELEASE

10 January 2006

New publication offers support to practitioners in promoting learning and development

The Pre-school Learning Alliance has released a new publication with the very latest information concerning children’s learning and development. The Child in Focus looks at evidence collection, assessment, record keeping and planning with a greater emphasis on discovering the direction that children want and need to go in their learning.

The publication is a substantial re-working of the hugely popular Start with the Child and contains up-to-date information and guidance for early years practitioners. It explores the latest approaches to assessment and development in the context of the Curriculum Guidance to the Foundation Stage and the Birth to Three Matters Framework. The Child in Focus links assessment to individual and group planning in the short and medium term, but with less emphasis on ‘targets’ and more on establishing where children want and need to go in their learning. It is designed to support practitioners to develop insightful understandings of the complexities of the development and learning of each child, as well as within a group of learners, as each learner influences the progress of others.

The publication explores a wide range of topics, including the psychological theories of learning and their practical application, the methods available for observing children’s development, the issues involved in making assessments and the practicalities of establishing records of achievement. The appendices contain photocopiable pro-formas for a range of methods of gathering and recording information.

Commenting on the release of the publication, Pre-school Learning Alliance Chief Executive Steve Alexander said

“The early years sector is the subject of substantial change and practitioners need to be confident that the information at their disposal is up-to-date and appropriate. We have produced The Child in Focus because we believe that those working in settings play an important role in an individual child’s development and in supporting parents, the child’s most fundamental educator. The publication will help practitioners navigate through the many methods and theories concerning child development and explore how they can best be applied practically”.

The Child in Focus is part of the charity’s programme to support settings with information and best practice examples and is available to order exclusively from the Pre-school Learning Alliance from today.

Publication Details

The Child in Focus: using observation and planning to promote the learning and development of individual children

Reference: A084
Price for Alliance members: £10.35
Price for non-members: £12.95

How to order

W: www.pre-school.org.uk
T :0870 603 0062
E: pre-school.mh AT plas-tek.co.uk

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Anna Roberts
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7014 9304
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Anna Roberts

Notes for Editors:

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  2. Through direct provision and its membership of 15,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  3. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk
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