The new edition of this best selling book looks critically at the 2012 Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and draws attention to issues that underlie the EYFS and the implications for children from birth to five.

With its questions for reflection and discussion, further reading and useful websites, Early Years Foundations is essential and informative reading for students studying any early years or early childhood course, or working towards Early Years Teacher Status.

Among the many challenges facing early years professionals, there are continual dilemmas arising between perceptions of good practice, the practicalities of provision and meeting OfSTED requirements. This exciting and innovative new edition supports practitioners in thinking through their responsibilities in tackling some of the many challenges they encounter, for example, that children are still perceived as 'deficit' in some way and in need of 'being school ready' rather than as developing individuals who have a right to a childhood and appropriate early education.

Chapters explore the rationale behind early years practice based on theory and research, covering important topics including:

• Prime and specific areas of learning and development
• Observation and assessment
• Pedagogy
• Working with parents
• Difference and diversity

Contributors: Sue Bingham, Gill Boag-Munroe, Liz Brooker, Helen Clarke, Anne Cockburn, Rosie Flewitt, Jan Georgeson, Michael Jones, Lilian G. Katz, Caroline Leeson, Paulette Luff, Jayne Osgood, John Parry, Jane Payler, Karen Phethean, Linda Pound, Anne Rawlings, Jonathan Rix, Sue Rogers, Anita Soni, Suzy Tutchell, Judith Twani, Jane Waters, David Whitebread

"Early Years Foundations: Critical issues is a timely and valuable edition for the early childhood bookshelf, offering high quality scholarship combined with deep understanding of early childhood practice."

Jane Murray PhD, Senior Lecturer, University of Northampton, UK

"This book stands out amongst the crowd for a number of reasons. In particular, the status of the three editing authors means that the content of the book is to be trusted to be both informed and thorough in its attention to detail, and this second edition has been carefully updated to incorporate recent reforms and initiatives. The editing authors' insistence on the creation of an early years text that centres on a critically reflective review of contemporary policy and research can only help to build the argument for a better future for young children's care and education."

Dr Kathy Goouch, Reader in Education, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK

"This book is not another bland 'how to do it' manual to accompany the EYFS, it goes much further in offering a truly challenging critique. This should be essential reading for experienced practitioners as well as Early Childhood Studies students."

Denise Hevey, Professor of Early Years, University of Northampton, UK.