Appropriate Environments for Children under Three

The most rapid and significant phase of development occurs in the first three years of a child's life. The Supporting Children from Birth to Three series focuses on the care and support of the youngest children. Each book takes a key aspect of working with this age group and gives clear and detailed explanations of relevant theories together with practical examples to show how such theories translate into good working practice.
It is widely known that babies and infants will flourish in an environment that supports and promotes their learning and development. But what constitutes an appropriate environment for children under three?
Drawing on recent research, this book explores the concept of an appropriate environment, both within and beyond the early years setting. It sets this within the context of child development and practically demonstrates how a high quality environment can be created for babies and children under three that supports their learning and development.
Features include:
clear explanation of relevant theories
case studies and examples of good practice
focus points for readers
questions for reflective practice
Providing a wealth of practical ideas and activities, this handy text provides detailed guidance on how to develop an appropriate indoor and outdoor environment for babies and children under three to help practitioners ensure effective outcomes for the youngest children in their care.

Dr. Helen Bradford is a passionate lifelong early years educator who has published widely over her career. She has worked in the early years for almost 30 years, where her specialist area of expertise is developing childhood language and literacy 0-8 years. She worked at the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge between 2003 to 2015, where she led literacy on the Early Years and Primary PGCE course, alongside Mrs. Penny Coltman, currently, the Early Years Education Mentor at CAMathories, and Dr. David Whitebread, a co-founder and the late Founding Chief Education Officer of CAMathories Company. Dr. Bradford gained her Master's degree entitled 'The Perceptions of Three- and Four-Year-Old Children as Writers' from the University of Cambridge in 2007, receiving a top 'A' grade for her research. Helen moved to UCL (University College London) Insititute of Education in 2015, where she lectured for four years across early childhood Master's courses, working with diverse cohorts of students from across the globe. Her Ph.D. research, entitled 'Co-Constructing Writing Pedagogy with Two-and-Three-Year-Old Children', won the 2019 United Kingdom Literacy Association prize for best thesis.Dr. Bradford is the Early Years Language and Literacy Mentor and an Education Team Member of CAMathories, alongside Dr. Lorna Ayton (Mathematics Advisor) and Mrs. Coltman (Early Years Education Mentor for Mathematics and Science.) Dr. Bradford advises on age-appropriate literacy and language contexts across the early year's learning resources for CAMathories.

Introduction Chapter 1 Setting the Scene: What is an Appropriate Environment? Chapter 2 The Developing Child Chapter 3 The Policy Context Chapter 4 Developing Inclusive Practice Chapter 5 Creating an Appropriate Environment: Towards a Review of Practice Chapter 6 Drawing the Threads Together References