Early Childhood Education & Care : An Introduction for Students in Ireland

Unique new text introducing the theories and concepts of Early Childhood Education and Care, highlighting the knowledge, values and skills required to become a competent ECEC practitioner in Ireland today. Written by educators, practitioners and policy experts from across Ireland, this book is organised in four parts:Part 1: Theoretical Underpinnings of Early Childhood Education and CareIntroduces students to the key concepts and theories from a range of relevant disciplines, enabling them to make sense of a child's place in the world. Part 2: Approaches to Early Childhood Education and CareDemonstrates the richness and breadth of pre-school learning models, describing the numerous theoretical and practical perspectives in early education and care. Part 3: Pedagogy and LearningExplores the different types of environments and situations contributing to young children's learning and reinforces the importance of engaging with parents and the community. Part 4: structures and Issues Outlines the unique character of the ECEC sector in Ireland, while also highlighting the importance of ethics and the significance of diversity in ECEC practice. Suitable For:Undergraduate degree programmes in Early Childhood Education and Care in Institutes of Technology and Colleges of Education. Unique new text introducing the theories and conceptsof Early Childhood Education and Care, whilehighlighting the knowledge, values and skills requiredto become a competent ECEC practitioner in Irelandtoday. Written by educators, practitioners and policy experts fromacross Ireland, this book is organised in four parts:Part 1: Theoretical Underpinnings of Early ChildhoodEducation and CareIntroduces students to the key concepts and theories froma range of relevant disciplines, enabling them to makesense of a child's place in the world. Part 2: Approaches to ECECDemonstrates the richness and breadth of pre-schoollearning models, describing the numerous theoretical andpractical perspectives in early education and care. Part 3: Pedagogy and LearningExplores the different types of environments and situationscontributing to young children's learning and reinforces theimportance of engaging with parents and the community. Part 4: Issues and ContextOutlines the unique character of the ECEC sector inIreland, while also highlighting the importance of ethicsand the significance of diversity in ECEC practice.