Section 1: Early childhood context and policy; 1. Children and childhood: a historical perspective; 2. The current policy context of early years; Section 2: Children's development; 3. Holistic development; 4. Children's development; 5. Development in the early years foundation stage; 6. Factors affecting children's learning and development; Section 3: Applying child development in practice; 7. Supporting children's learning and development; 8. Observing and assessing children's learning and development; Section 4: Enhancing practice and understanding; 9. Reflecting on children's learning and development; 10. Starting from the child:matching provision to children's development and learning needs; 11. Thinking, questioning and challenging: a critical approach to the early years.