Teaching across the early years 3-7 - Hilary Cooper

This practical and accessible book explores ways of developing continuity and coherence in children's learning from three to seven years old. It is based around three case studies in which tutors on Initial Teacher Training courses worked with early years practitioners in three different pre-school settings, each linked to a primary school. The book describes how they successfully managed to plan and teach integrated themes across the age-range in the context of the requirements of the Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum.

Each case study has a different focus:

* science, design and technology
*' the arts' - including an ICT strand
* 'the humanities' - including a physical education strand

English and mathematics dimensions run through each theme.The book is alive with discussion of children's art, language, drama and music, captured as field notes, writing, drawing, and as video tape. Each chapter concludes with suggestions of ways in which readers can develop the ideas in their own contexts.

This book will be invaluable reading for students on Early Years courses, Early Years practitioners, and tutors and mentors in early childhood education.

Hilary Cooper is Reader in Education at St. Martin's University College, Ambleside where Chris Sixsmith is an Early Years specialist and the Programme Leader of the BA QTS course; all contributors are also based at this institution.

'This book makes a valuable contribution to the literature on the curriculum for 3-7 year olds and will help practitioners to see how continuity and progression can be planned and tracked through the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 even when settings are not all within one institution ... This book will certainly be of interest to tutors and mentors involved in teacher training as well as practitioners and students in a range of settings.' - Early Years

'Information on curriculum rationale, activities, assessment, and collaboration, and questions and issues raised by the study will provide a rich discussion for professionals at all levels of early childhood education.' - Childhood Education