Table of Contents

1. Setting the scene
2. Children in the context of their families and communities
3. Thinking about children: Development and play
4. Reflective and evaluative practice
5. Developing philosophies
6. Understanding the setting
7. Curriculum approaches and pedagogies
8. Assessing and planning for children’s learning
9. Relationships and interactions in children’s learning
10. Learning environments
11. Journeys of change

About the Author

Sue Dockett is Professor of Early Childhood Education at Charles Sturt University. She has worked as an educator and academic in the field of early childhood for over 30 years. Much of her current research agenda is focused on educational transitions, particularly transitions to school and the expectations, experiences and perceptions of all involved. Her other research areas include children’s play, participatory, rights-based research and researching with children. Leonie Arthur has worked in long day care, preschool and the early years of school across New South Wales and the Northern Territory, and in teacher education at Western Sydney University. Her recent research and current projects focus on effective play-based pedagogies, practitioner research and literacy learning and teaching. Leonie was also one of the members of the CSU-led consortium that developed the Early Years Learning Framework. Sue Farmer has worked in a wide range of early childhood education and early childhood intervention settings and management positions since the mid-1970s. She worked at the University of Western Sydney and within the TAFE system for many years. She is the author of Policy Development in Early Childhood Services and Collaborative Documentation and Planning. Sue has been involved in many early childhood professional organisations and her project work has focused on providing mentoring in early childhood settings to support cultural competency and inclusion, developing the publication Journeys of Inclusion. Bronwyn Beecher worked in the early years of school in diverse sociocultural contexts. She worked in the School of Education in primary and early childhood education at Western Sydney University. Later Bronwyn managed the KU Early Language and Literacy Initiative (KU ELLI) in preschool communities in Western Sydney. Her research investigates family, community and educator partnerships, strengthening pedagogical practice and children’s learning and literacy practices. Bronwyn is co-author of Literacies, Communities and Under 5s, a co-author of Play and Literacy in Children’s Worlds (with Leonie Arthur), and a co-author and co-editor of Diverse Literacies in Early Childhood (with Leonie Arthur and Jean Ashton). Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Death is a partner at Edan Consulting and Chief Executive Officer of the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA), a national association of large providers of early learning and care services. Elizabeth has a broad base in social policy and service delivery coupled with a strong record of achievement in both the public and not-for-profit sectors. Elizabeth has worked in ministers’ offices, government departments, universities and not-for-profit organisations at national and state levels with a focus on education, Aboriginal affairs, community services and remote communities, bringing a particular depth in early childhood education. Elizabeth has represented government on national committees such as the Council of Australian Government’s National Early Childhood Policy Group and the National Australian Early Development Census (Index) committee. She has also represented peak early childhood organisations and service providers in advocacy, policy and service delivery forums such as Senate enquiries into early learning and care, and submissions to government and national forums.