Routledge Reader in Early Childhood Education

<p>Early childhood education has always provoked passionate feelings amongst stakeholders at all levels from practitioners working with children and families in pre-school and school settings to advisers managers politicians and academics</p><p></p><p>The purpose of this reader is to examine change transformation and continuity and to present indicative scholarship in relation to five key themes: </p><p></p><p>theoretical perspectives on learning </p><p></p><p>curriculum and pedagogy </p><p></p><p>play </p><p></p><p>policy </p><p></p><p>professionalism and research methods </p><p></p><p>Within each theme the readings have been chosen to exemplify national and international perspectives and trends. This is not to present a homogenised view of early childhood provision and services across cultural contexts; rather the intention is to take a critical perspective on past present and future directions and to identify some of the challenges dilemmas and contradictions posed in research and scholarship. </p>