Completely revised and updated edition of this well-established textbook, which details all recent changes in Government policy and legislation within the area of childcare.

• New to this edition:
  • Describes the implementation of Aistear, the NCCA curriculum framework for children from birth to six years
    
    
  • Introduces Síolta, the quality assurance framework, which establishes the quality standards for the early childhood sector
    
    
    
• Includes essential information relevant to the Irish childcare situation 
  
  
• Provides a strong and integrated focus on policies, laws and services within the context of Irish childcare
  
  
• Diversity is a central theme again throughout this new edition
  
  
• Contains class exercises in the form of case studies, scenarios, activities and discussion topics in all sections
  
  

WRITTEN FOR

-     FETAC Level 5 Certificate in Childcare

-     FETAC Level 5 Certificate in Community and Health Services

-     CACHE, BTEC and City & Guilds qualifications in early years work

-     FETAC Level 6 Certificate in Childcare

Frances Gaynor MA (Equality Studies), HDipEd. was the manager of a Childcare Centre for many years before becoming the Early Education tutor in Sallynoggin College of Further Education, teaching on FETAC Level 5 and FETAC Level 6 Certificates in Childcare. She is currently deputy principal of the college.

Introduction

Chapter 1: Development of the Early Childhood Sector

Chapter 2: Pre-School Regulations

Chapter 3: Children have a Right to Quality Services

Section Two: Providing for Play

Chapter 4: The Play Environment

Chapter 5: Play – Ages and Stages

Section Three: Child Observation

Chapter 6: Introducing Child Observation

Chapter 7: Observations in Practice

Section Four: Legal Issues

Chapter 8: The Legal Framework for Families and Children

Chapter 9: Child Protection

Section Five: Social Issues

Chapter 10: Sociology: Key Concepts for Early Childhood Workers

Chapter 11: Social Services

Section Six: Equality and Diversity

Chapter 12: Looking at Ourselves

Chapter 13: Prejudice and Discrimination in Ireland

Chapter 14: Why Focus on Children?