Department for Education and Skills, (2002), Birth to 3 Matters: A Framework to Support Children in their Earliest Years. London: DfES.
This curriculum framework supports childcare practice and provides practitioners with information and guidance on their role in promoting children’s learning and development. It will support evaluation of planning and activities within the care setting. It will support the theory of why we do this and what are we achieving by doing it. The framework makes important links to attachment and that children should be shown affection and support in order to ensure sound emotional development. Bowlby believed that children deprived of affection during the critical period of 0 – 3 years had a greater likelihood of poor emotional development.
Department of Health (2003), Every Child Matters. Norwich: The Stationery Office.
Every Child Matters (2003) is legislation by the Government to ensure that organisations and practitioners must work together to;
“We all share a duty to do everything we can to ensure every child has the chance to fulfil their potential”
(Dept of Health, 2003, p6)
This piece of legislation will support this assignment by demonstrating the importance of practitioner’s roles in the development of children’s learning. It strengthens the link between theory and practice.
Department for Education and Skills, (2007), The Early Years Foundation Stage. London: DfES.
This guidance supports childcare practice and provides statutory guidance on childcare up to the age of 5 years. It will support evaluation of planning and activities within the care setting. It will support the theory of why we do this and what are we achieving by doing it.
The early learning goal,
“Children feel safe, secure and able to trust the practitioners who work with them”
(DfES, 2007, p28)
cited within the Personal, Social and Emotional Development section links significantly with the theories of Bowlby, Piaget and Vygotsky. This stage of development reinforces the need for the supportive role of the key person to scaffold the child’s learning.
Lindon, J (2006) Taking Charge, Nursery World, 12th December 2006.
This article discusses the importance of independent learning and links the Birth to Three Framework to practice. It provides information on the role and responsibility of the practitioner in promoting independent learning. This will support this assignment when looking at the role of the key person in the childcare setting. This assignment will be used in assignment two to evaluate how theory can be applied to practice.
Bruce T, (2004), Developing Learning in Early Childhood. London: Paul Chapman.
Bruce (2004) identifies how practitioners can support children in their learning. It demonstrates research and theories and examples from practitioners across a wide range of early years settings. It examines the importance of play in children’s development and gives many different aspects on a variety of theories. Page 140 talks about cognitive development and makes comparisons between theorists. The emotional development theories of Bowlby and Ainsworth are explored in the chapter, ‘A Sense of Self ‘ and it looks at the importance of a safe base which links to the role of the key person and the admission policies within a childcare setting. This book gives research that will support assignment two by analysing the key person role within the setting, how effective it is and what are the benefits to the child. It will support the evaluation of the role of the parents and how children are settled in to the setting.
“Early bonding relationships start children off with secure foundations which help them to understand the challenges of life”
(Bruce T, 2004, p33)
The following journals look at attachment theory by John Bowlby. Each article gives an individual view on the theory. Reading different methods of writing will be useful in digesting the information.
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John Bowlby (1907 –1990) . Accessed 13th May 2008.
- Hoover, John H, John Bowlby on Human Attachment,
Accessed 28th April 2008.
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Arcus, D, John Bowlby (1907 – 1990) Accessed 28th April 2008.
Barrett H, (2005), Close Ties, Nursery World, 18th August 2005.
This article discusses attachment theory by John Bowlby. It looks at how his work has influenced today’s practice and gives arguments for and against. This article will be important in the analysis of Bowlby’s theory.
Evan, M, (2005), Free Time, Nursery World, 6th October 2005.
This article is very useful as it details the controversial research that informal childcare can have a detrimental effect on children’s development. It looks at various studies including maternal time. It also gives views from various professionals. This article will both challenge and support Bowlby’s theory.
In this article Peter Elfer argues that one of the key factors in children’s development is the quality of the relationship between child and carer,
“Attachment is what I am looking at; children who have very good attachment experiences in the nursery, or with whoever is caring for them over a long time”
(Evans M, 2005, p 10)
Macleod – Brundenell, (2004), Advanced Early Years Care and Education, Oxford: Heinemann Educational Publishers.
Chapter four of this book covers emotional and social development. It discusses attachment between infant and carer. The chapter explores various theorist including Bowlby, Freud, Erikson and Ainsworth therefore enabling comparisons to be carried out. This will give opportunity to consider points for and against the theory. In chapter five it goes on to explore cognitive development and the theory of Jean Piaget (1886- 1980). The following quote is an example of how the book informs the reader that each theorist has its pros and cons and goes onto inform you of them.
“Piaget is best know and perhaps most influential of the cognitive theorists (Bjorklund, 2000) but he is also the most criticised. Just as Freud, it is easy to find lots of things he did that were methodologically flawed, but nevertheless we are left with interesting and valuable insights that add to our understanding of children”
(Macleod – Brundenell, 2004 p.140)
Meggitt C, Walker J, (2004), An Introduction to Childcare and Education, London, Hodder Arnold.
This book explores play and discusses theorist such as Piaget and his stages of play development, Brunner, Vygotsky and Froebel. It details how play helps thinking and concepts to develop. Piaget believed that children are active learners. This book demonstrates how children learn and how practitioners can promote development. This will be valuable when evaluating childcare practice.
Bayley R, Featherstone, (2001), Foundations for Independence, Lutterworth: Featherstone Education Ltd.
This book concentrates on independent learning and discusses the theories behind how children learn. Chapter two gives the history behind theorists such as Bruner, Piaget and Vygotsky. It provides useful quotes and references. It also explores the importance of the role of the practitioner in promoting children’s learning.
“ What a child can do with assistance today she will be able to do herself tomorrow”
(Lev Vygotsky cited in Foundations for Independence 2001 p 12)
Oates,J, (2007), Early Childhood in Focus 1, Attachment Relationships, Milton Keynes: Open University.
This document examines attachment in great detail. It looks at relationships between children and the caregiver, influences on attachments and the developmental outcomes. It details the effects of separation from the attachment figure and the impact this has on later emotional development outcomes. In assignment two the effects of separation in relation to children starting a day care setting will be examined and how the practitioner can ensure children are supported.
“Separation from an attachment figure is potentially a major trauma for a child and can have serious consequences”
(Oates J, 2007, p 36)
To conclude, the reference books, journals and pieces of legislation will support the critical analysis of two areas of child development, emotional and cognitive development. They will provide evaluation of two key theorists, Bowlby and Piaget and link these theories to childcare practice in today’s settings.
Reference List.
Arcus, D, (1998) Encyclopaedia of Childhood and Adolescence, John Bowlby (1907 – 1990) Online, (accessed on 28th April 2008)
Bayley, R, Featherstone, (2001), Foundations for Independence, Lutterworth, Featherstone Education Ltd.
Barrett H, (2005), Close Ties, Nursery World, 18th August 2005.
Bowlby, J, (1907 –1990) Online, . (Accessed 13th May 2008)
Bruce, T, (2004), Developing Learning in Early Childhood. London: Paul Chapman.
Department for Education and Skills, (2002), Birth to 3 Matters: A Framework to Support Children in their Earliest Years: London: DfES.
Department of Health (2003), Every Child Matters. Norwich: The Stationery Office.
Department for Education and Skills, (2007), The Early Years Foundation Stage. London: DfES.
Evan, M, (2005), Free Time, Nursery World, 6th October 2005.
Hoover, John H, (2004), John Bowlby on Human Attachment, Online, (accessed on 28th April 2008)
Jarvis, M. & Chandler, E. (2001) Angles on Psychology, Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Ltd.
Lindon J, (2005) Understanding Child Development, London: Hodder Arnold,
Lindon, J (2006) Taking Charge, Nursery World, 12th December 2006.
Macleod – Brundenell, (2004), Advanced Early Years Care and Education, Oxford: Heinemann Educational Publishers.
Meggitt C, Walker J, (2004), An Introduction to Childcare and Education, London: Hodder Arnold.
Oates,J , (2007), Early Childhood in Focus 1, Attachment Relationships, Milton Keynes: Open University.
