Summary:
Professionalism in the Early Years reflects the new government agenda demanding higher levels of professionalism in the Early Years sector, as set out in the Children's Workforce Strategy. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) aim to transform and professionalise the early years workforce through the creation of new roles, such as the Early Years Professional (EYP), for those leading and working in Children's Centres and in the private and voluntary sector. This text is written by national and international authorities in the field, all of whom are involved in teaching, training and research or at policy level. The editors have been closely involved with development of the government agenda on professionalising the Early Years workforce.

Professionalism in the Early Years covers a wide range of issues including:
· routes to professionalism;
· policy developments;
· multi-professional collaboration and multi-agency working;
· international perspectives;
· rethinking professionalism;
· key themes and issues within the Early Years workforce.

A truly groundbreaking publication for a new generation of the Children’s Workforce, Professionalism in the Early Years sets out the agenda to shape the future of this workforce. Student-friendly, accessible and authoritative, this is the ideal core reader for all those embarking on their professional development within the Early Years sector.

• The only core text available for students & practitioners embarking on EYP status within the Early Years sector
• Authored by a wide range of international experts on Early Years provision and professionalism
• Endorsed/supported by CWDC/DfES/leading Early Years authority - to be confirmed
• Explores all aspects of professionalism and covers the key themes and issues within the workforce agenda
• Topics include routes to professionalism, multi-agency collaboration, policy developments, students voices and rethinking professionalism
• Also offers an international/global perspective

Table of Contents:
Routes to Professionalism
1. Developing professionalism in the Early Years: from policy to practice
2. Developing new professional roles in the Early Years
3. Early Childhood Studies Degrees and the development of a graduate profession
4. The early years teacher
5. Teaching assistants in the early years
6. The P word and home-based childcarers
7. Leadership in the early years
Developing professional practice
8. Reflective practice
9. Computer mediated communication - using e-learning to support professional development
10. Studying the Early Years Foundation Degree: student voices
Rethinking professionalism
11. The democratic and reflective professional: rethinking and reforming the early years workforce
12. Who is an early years professional? Reflections on policy diversity in Europe
13. The new teacher in New Zealand
14. Promoting young children's development: implications of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
15. Looking to the future

About the Author(s):
Linda Miller is Professor in Early Years at the Open University. She is former chair of the Sector Endorsed Foundation Degrees in Early Years (SEFDEY) national network.

Carrie Cable is a Senior Lecturer in Education at the Open University. She is involved in developing courses for teaching assistants and early years practitioners and has contributed to national training and development initiatives for teaching assistants and teachers, particularly in the field of English as an additional language

Readership:
Early Years Foundation Degree students; Early Childhood Studies Degree students; Early Years Profesisonal Pathways