First published in 2008. Reprinted in 2009, 2010 (twice) and 2012.

Introduction PART ONE: A SHORT HISTORY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION The Legacy of History Early Childhood Education in the UK: A Brief History Foundation Stones: Some Key Figures Whose Work Has Influenced Thinking and Development of Provision for Young People Into the Twenty-First Century: Twenty-Five Years of Policy Change Understanding Recent History: 1988-2013 Into the Future, Learning from the Past PART TWO: THE PIONEERS: THEIR LIVES AND WORKS Socrates John Amos Komensky (Comenius) Jean Jacques Rousseau Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Robert Owen Friedrich Froebel Charles Dickens Charlotte Mason Rudolf Steiner Sigmund Freud Rachel McMillan John Dewey Margaret McMillan Maria Montessori Alexander Sutherland (A.S. Neill) Susan Sutherland Isaacs Louis Christian Schiller Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky Donald Woods Winnicott Jean Piaget Erik Erikson Carl Rogers Robin Tanner Burrhus Frederick Skinner Sir Alexander Bradshow Clegg (Alec Clegg) Loris Malaguzzi Chris Athey PART THREE: TALKING OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: NINE CONVERSATIONS Conversation 1 So, Who Needs History? Conversation 2 Why Early Childhood Education? Conversation 3 What Motivates Young Children to Learn? Conversation 4 How Do Young Children Learn? Conversation 5 A Policy of Creativity Conversation 6 Looking Back to 'Education' and 'Care'... Challenging Current Policy through History Conversation 7 Literacy in the Early Years: A Pedagogy of Patience? Conversation 8 Children's Rights and Early Learning Conversation 9 From God and Church to Awe and Wonder: Spirituality and Creativity in Early Childhood Education PART FOUR: LINKING THE PAST WITH THE PRESENT 1. Children's Rights 2. The Arts and Creativity 3. Literacy 4. Play, Learning and Pedagogy 5. Early Intervention 6. Home Learning and Parental Involvement in Early Education 7. Inclusion 8. Professional Development and Training

A history of the important ideas behind the policies and practices in early childhood education, this book details individual educators and contributors to the field in order to help readers understand how contributions and developments in the past have created routes to present thinking and practice. This well-loved book by high-profile authors provides an accessible introduction to the history of early childhood education, featuring a series of 'conversations' with key figures and pioneers.