Table of Contents

Introduction: Children at the Centre of Practice

PART 1: Theoretical Underpinnings of Early Childhood Education and Care
1: The Development of Early Childhood Education in Ireland in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
2: Theoretical Perspectives on Children’s Development During the Early Years
3: Understanding Child Health and Well-being
4: Sociological Perspectives on Childhood
5: The Legal Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care
6: Social Policy and Early Childhood Education and Care

PART 2: Approaches to Early Childhood Education and Care
7: Síolta: The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education
8: Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework
9: Engaging with Early Childhood Education Models
10: The Montessori Approach to Early Childhood Education
11: The HighScope Approach to Early Learning
12: Reggio Emilia
13: Friedrich Froebel and Early Childhood Education
14: Steiner Waldorf Early Years Education
15: Na Naíonraí
16: Learning to Play and Playing to Learn
17: The What, Why and How of Inclusive Early Years Practice
18: Early Interventions in Early Childhood Education and Care
19: Early Childhood Education in the Primary School Curriculum

PART 3: Pedagogy and Learning
20: Perspectives on Early Learning
21: Child Language in the Early Years
22: Children’s Literature and Early Literacy
23: Numeracy through Play and Real-Life Experiences
24: Learning Outdoors
25: Working with Parents in Early Years Services

PART 4: Structures and Issues
26: Why Working with Diversity and Equality in Early Childhood Education and Care Matters
27: The Early Childhood Education and Care Sector in Ireland
28: The Application and Uses of Ethics in Early Childhood Education and Care
29: Practice Placement and Reflection
30: The Future: Where are We Going?

About the Author

Maire Mhic Mhathuna, MEd, PhD, is a lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the Dublin Institute of Technology. Dr Mark Taylor is a lecturer in the School of Business and Humanities, Institute of Technology, Sligo.