Abstract

Underpinned by substantive research on meeting the developmental and attachment needs of infants, this book offers constructive advice on how to encourage curiosity, confidence and emotional security in young children. Based on a philosophy of respect and sensitive observation of infants, it is appropriate for use in Sure Start programmes. The contributors offer a model that supports children's development and well being without relying on expensive material resources, and enables a coherent care strategy to be applied across different services.

They explain the main elements of the RIE approach clearly and concisely and fully explore the practicalities of its implementation in a range of settings, including state-run and independent day care and residential centres, private households and family-based day care.

The fresh and effective approach to caring for infants and toddlers outlined in this book will be welcomed by parents and day care professionals, as well as those who manage and evaluate child care provision.

This book gives early years practitioners in the UK a welcome chance to read about an approach to the care and education of infants and toddlers first pioneered in post-war Hungary and exported to the USA. Chapter 8 looks at the applicability of the approach in the UK and I hope it will be read widely: the time is ripe for a broader international input to quality "educare" here'.
Nursery World
Stephanie Petrie has 25 years' experience as a social worker, senior practitioner and manager of children's services in statutory and independent sectors. She is now Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Liverpool, where her research interests include teenage pregnancy. Sue Owen is Director of the Early Childhood Unit of the National Children's Bureau. She is author of Ambition for Change: Partnerships, Children and Work with Ann Jamieson.

There is much to recommend in this book. At its heart is an understanding of the role that respectful relationships play in ensuring high-quality provision for our youngest children... this book has important messages for practitioners in early years settings, childminders working with babies and toddlers and practitioners working with parents to improve outcomes for children.

I recommend that this is read by policy makers at national and local level. We need to ensure that those making decisions about the type of provision to be offered to our youngest citizens are aware of how they are best supported during these formative years.

Children Now
This new book offers constructive advice on how to encourage curiosity, confidence and emotional security in young children. Based on a philosophy of respect and sensitive observation of children, the fresh and effective approach to caring for infants and toddlers outlined will be welcomed by parents and day care professionals, as well as those who manage and evaluate childcare provision. The writers offer a model that supports children's development and well-being without relying on expensive resources.
Practical Professional Child Care