Birth to Three Matters

Contents Page

List of Contributors

Foreword DfES

Preface
Lesley Abbott and Ann Langston
Acknowledgements

Chapter 1
Ann Langston and Lesley Abbott
Framework Matters

Chapter 2
Ian Barron and Rachel Holmes
Aspects Matter

Chapter 3
Gillian Pugh
Policy Matters

Chapter 4
Tricia David, Kathy Goouch and Sacha Powell
Research Matters

Chapter 5
Helen Moylett and Pat Djemli
Practitioners Matter

Chapter 6
Ann Langston and Lesley Abbott
Quality Matters

Chapter 7
John Powell
Anti-Discriminatory Practice Matters

Chapter 8
Julie Jennings
Inclusion Matters

Chapter 9
John Powell
Safety Matters

Chapter 10
Peter Elfer
Observation Matters

Chapter 11
Tina Bruce
Play Matters

Chapter 12
Iram Siraj-Blatchford
Interaction Matters

Chapter 13
Bernadette Duffy
Creativity Matters

Chapter 14
Training Matters
Lesley Abbott and Ann Langston

“The quality of children’s experiences, and the engagement of their parents, particularly in these early years, is critical to better outcomes that will impact on the child right into adolescence and adulthood. While we have done much to expand quantity, we also must keep working on quality. This book is a key tool for both practitioners delivering services and managers designing and commissioning them.”
Naomi Eisenstadt, Director, Sure Start Unit, Department for Education and Skills

Birth to Three Matters is essential reading for anyone involved in providing care and education or developing policy for children between birth and three. The book:

• Explores the structure and content of the DfES Birth to Three Matters Framework
• Supports the use of the pack by providing more detail, background information, and discussion of current research and case studies in Early Years
• Examines a range of issues that impact on the development of quality in early years settings
• Features contributions from influential early years experts, many of whom were involved in the development of the Birth to Three Matters Framework

Topics include national and international policy and research, practitioners, quality, anti-discriminatory practice, inclusion, safety, and training. A sound theoretical approach is supported and enhanced by a highly practical section, which links to the framework and shows how how observation, play, interaction and creativity affects work with very young children.

This book supports a variety of professionals involved in the development of policy, practice and quality in early years settings, as well as students seeking to understand more about the Birth to Three Matters Framework and the issues that influence work with this age group.