Recognising and Planning for Special Needs in the Early Years

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.

• The Bigger Picture: The Law, Guidance and RecommendationsA Unique Child: An Holistic ViewEnabling Environments: The Reflective SettingDevelopment Matters: Looking at Personal, Social and Emotional DevelopmentDevelopment Matters: Looking at Communication, Language and LiteracyDevelopment Matters: Looking at Physical DevelopmentLook, Listen and Note: Themed ObservationsNext Steps: Plan, Do, Review

′[This book] will be useful for all those working with young children. There is helpful advice on how to encourage children towards the next stage of achievement in the areas of personal, social and emotional development, communication, language and literacy and physical development, as well as ways to improve turn-taking and other behaviours...A thorough resource for practitioners in early years, particularly for those working with pre-school children′ - Special ′The wealth of examples and practical resources, the accessible style and the clear presentation make this an invaluable aid to helping early years practitioners feel comfortable with their responsibilities for promoting positive outcomes for all the children in their setting′ - Early Years Update′Clear layout with helpful strategies and ideas on early recognistion. CD has great proformas to use. I have now brought all 5 books in the Hand On Guide series and they all have not disappointed me in their presentations or practical ideas′ - Amazon Customer Review′[This book is] essential reading for all early years students and practitioners′ - Early Years Educator′This book provides a clear and practical overview of approaches to identifying children′s difficulties in the early years and meeting their needs in a systematic way′ - SENCO Update