`This book is a welcome contribution to the literature available for early years practitioners. The clear focus on one child is an excellent antidote to the current risks of focusing so much on the general framework and learning goals for all, that we lose sight of how individual children negotiate the early years' - Nursery World

This book grew out of a three-year study of one child, documenting her social, emotional and cognitive development.

It provides a valuable insight for all students and teachers of child development at the individual level. The observations and assessments are presented here as a model for students to use in their own observations aimed at supporting and extending children's learning. The book sets out theories and traditions in early childhood development and care, as well as ways of analyzing observations.

This is an essential book for students and practitioners involved in research and observation in early years settings.