‘The number of two-year-olds entering our settings has been increasing over the last few years, and with the government set to continue with the expansion of free places, more and more practitioners will be caring for children in this age range for the first time. For those who still think in terms of the ′terrible twos′, this book serves as a vital and urgent wake-up call. Whether experienced professional or someone starting out on an early years career, it has a great deal to recommend it. ‘
– Neil Henty, Editor and Associate Publisher, The Early Years Educator
Do you want to know how best to provide for two year olds in your setting? Do you need effective guidance and advice on how to achieve this?
This is an unmissable guide to working with two year olds, offering practical tips and tools to support practitioners, professionals and lecturers in meeting the unique set of needs of this age group.
Written by two experienced early years’ professionals this resource covers all aspects of provision and best practice for successfully working with two year olds, including key concerns such as:
- the completion of the Two Year Progress Check
- transitions into a setting
- child development
- formative and summative assessment
- effective learning environments
- working with parents.
All this plus charts, pro forma, activities and training materials as well as further reading and access to websites, providing you with all you need to respond to the needs of two year olds with confidence.
Chris Dukes and Maggie Smith are both Area SENCOs in London and experienced trainers and authors in the Early Years.
Table of Contents:
Preface: Terrific Two Year Olds!
Chapter 1: Successful Transitions
Chapter 2: An Environment for Learning
Chapter 3: Communication and Language Development
Chapter 4: Physical Development
Chapter 5: Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Chapter 6: Dealing with Feelings
Chapter 7: Checking Progress at Two Years Old
About the Author :
Chris Dukes is a qualified teacher with over 20 years’ experience. She has worked in various London primary schools as a class teacher and also as a member of the Senior Management Team. Chris has a Master’s degree in Special Needs and through her later role as a Special Needs Co-ordinator and Support Teacher, many years’ experience of working with children with additional needs. Chris has worked closely, mentoring, advising and supervising staff teams to work with young children as well as with other education and health professionals. She currently works part time as an Area SENCO supporting Special Needs Co-ordinators and managers in a range of early year’s settings. Chris is also one half of ‘earlymatters’ training and consultancy, is co-author of the Hands on Guides series of books and writes for various early years’ publications.
Maggie Smith began her career as a nursery teacher in Birmingham. She has worked as a peripatetic teacher for an under-5’s EAL Team and went on to become the Foundation Stage manager of an Early Years Unit in inner London. Maggie helped to set up an innovative unit for young children with behavioural difficulties and has also worked supporting families of children with special needs. She has taught on Early Years BTEC and CACHE courses at a college of higher education. Maggie currently works part time as an Area SENCO supporting Special Needs Co-ordinators and managers in a range of early year’s settings. She is also one half of ‘earlymatters’ training and consultancy, is co-author of the Hands on Guides series of books and writes for various early years’ publications.
Review :
‘The number of two-year-olds entering our settings has been increasing over the last few years, and with the government set to continue with the expansion of free places, more and more practitioners will be caring for children in this age range for the first time. For those who still think in terms of the ′terrible twos′, this book serves as a vital and urgent wake-up call. Whether experienced professional or someone starting out on an early years career, it has a great deal to recommend it. ‘
An accessible and readable book with practice examples about provision for very young children. A timely book.
good book for ECT
A useful text for those working with children under 2 years of age.
Useful book for undergraduate early years students
Particularly good for students who are thinking about progressing onto the Early Years Teacher status qualification.
EXtremely useful overview with some good checklists.
An interesting text to support practice with the age group that the book discusses. This is a less useful text for supporting academic writing.
Very interesting book which could be used for level 2 and 3 learners.
A timely book with good checklists for support!
Much needed guidance,
This is a useful guide for novice practitioners regarding what development might be considered typical in young children. However, whilst plenty of additional, more theory-based reading is identified, there is little underpinning theory woven into the actual text, making it more suitable as a supplementary resource of undergraduates rather than a recommended one.
Great text for students to focus in on this important age range. Accessible to students from level 4 to level 6
This is a useful guide for anyone new to the early years practitioner role, as it clearly outlines what development might be considered typical in young children of this age. Reference to theory-based reading is identified, which is welcomed for students undertaking academic study, however this book could have been further enhanced if this underpinning theory was woven into the actual text of the book, making it more appropriate as a resource for undergraduates. Whether an experienced professional or someone starting out on an early year’s career it is a good read which is recommended. This literature is particularly good for students who are thinking about progressing onto the Early Years Teacher status qualification.
Considering a few sessions focused specifically on development of 2 year olds and this book will be great as additional reading for those who feel that they need it. Particularly like the photocopiable pages
A useful guide to develop knowledge in young children
The course has finished and will not be run again here but i have adopted for the new Early Years educator qualification.
A useful guide for all early years practitioner.clear descriptions for the recording of development in young children. Nicely laid out and easy to use for tutor and student as well as those in settings who wish to update and and be updated with links to theory and practice.
