Written with the new Early Years Foundation Stage and the Early Years Professional Status requirements in mind, the new edition of this best-selling book includes fully updated coverage of policy and research, practice, and workforce issues, as well as four brand new chapters on:

- Children's Centres

- Health services in the early years

- Leading and working in multiagency teams

- Quality in early childhood education

This book is essential reading for students on early childhood studies courses, PGCEs and early years foundation degrees, and multi-agency team-workers in early childhood services provision.

Dr Gillian Pugh is Visitor Professor at the Institute Education and former chief excutive of Coram Family.

Bernadette Duffy is Head of Centre at Thomas Coram Centre for Children and families in Camden.