Suitable for students in all early years/early childhood courses, as well as interested practitioners, this book looks at the current structure of early childhood education and care workforce in various countries - Australia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Russia, Germany, the Philippines, Sweden, and the UK - each of which represents a distinct philosophical tradition. It traces what has shaped this structure and examines how politics and policy have molded the workforce over time. Each chapter analyzes historical, philosophical, and political developments in the respective country and looks at the...

This book celebrates the knowledge Early Years practitioners already have, the knowledge that they will develop in their practical and theoretical training and the knowledge that cannot be described, but is none-the-less important in guiding the daily work of the early years sector. Theoretical and practical knowledge are also brought together in this book while encouraging critical consideration of alternative forms of knowledge such as attitudes and beliefs. Providing international examples and theoretical discussions on the challenges and rewards of working in the early years, this book...