Introduction 1. The early years of childhood 2. Caring for children ? caring about children 3. Promoting health and well being through food and mealtimes 4. Keeping children well and healthy 5. Conception and birth 6. Care and development of babies 7. Supporting children?s personal and social development 8. Children in a social world: emotions, thinking and actions 9. Physical development and skills 10. Learning opportunities through physical activities 11. The development of communication and spoken language 12. Supporting children?s development of literacy 13. Thinking and intellectual development 14. Supporting children?s learning within the curriculum 15. Planning for children?s learning 16. Observation, record keeping and assessment 17. A positive approach to children?s behaviour 18. Children with disabilities and continuing health conditions 19. Child protection in the early years 20.Developing good practice as an early years practitioner 21.Partnership with parents Appendix 1: Working towards an early years qualification Appendix 2: Useful organisations Glossary Index