This accessible introduction to the history of early childhood education emphasises the role of history and philosophy in early childhood practice today. Firmly grounded in current policy from across the UK, the text features a series of imagined conversations with key figures and pioneers, which exemplify various philosophical positions in early childhood. This second edition has been fully updated and revised in line with recent policy changes, and contains new and updated biographies of key pioneers as well as three brand new conversations with historical figures.

The book is useful for a range of students of Early Childhood Education or History of Education, from first year undergraduates to PhD students. It will also be incredibly valuable to Early Years trainee teachers, practitioners and policy makers.

Cathy Nutbrown is President of Early Education and Professor of Education in the School of Education at the University of Sheffield. Her research over the last 30 years, has focussed on young children's learning and work with parents to support young children's literacy development. She won an ESRC Award for Research with Outstanding Impact on Society and a Nursery World Lifetime Achievement Award. She is author of over 150 publications including Early Literacy Work with Families (with Hannon and Morgan, Sage, 2005), Early Childhood Educational Research (Sage, 2019), and Home Learning Environments for Young Children (with Clough, Davies and Hannon, Sage, 2022).

Introduction
PART ONE: A SHORT HISTORY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
The Legacy of History
Early Childhood Education in the UK: A Brief History
Foundation Stones: Some Key Figures Whose Work Has Influenced Thinking and Development of Provision for Young People
Into the Twenty-First Century: Twenty-Five Years of Policy Change
Understanding Recent History: 1988-2013
Into the Future, Learning from the Past
PART TWO: THE PIONEERS: THEIR LIVES AND WORKS
Socrates
John Amos Komensky (Comenius)
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
Robert Owen
Friedrich Froebel
Charles Dickens
Charlotte Mason
Rudolf Steiner
Sigmund Freud
Rachel McMillan
John Dewey
Margaret McMillan
Maria Montessori
Alexander Sutherland (A.S. Neill)
Susan Sutherland Isaacs
Louis Christian Schiller
Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky
Donald Woods Winnicott
Jean Piaget
Erik Erikson
Carl Rogers
Robin Tanner
Burrhus Frederick Skinner
Sir Alexander Bradshow Clegg (Alec Clegg)
Loris Malaguzzi
Chris Athey
PART THREE: TALKING OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: NINE CONVERSATIONS
Conversation 1 So, Who Needs History?
Conversation 2 Why Early Childhood Education?
Conversation 3 What Motivates Young Children to Learn?
Conversation 4 How Do Young Children Learn?
Conversation 5 A Policy of Creativity
Conversation 6 Looking Back to 'Education' and 'Care'... Challenging Current Policy through History
Conversation 7 Literacy in the Early Years: A Pedagogy of Patience?
Conversation 8 Children's Rights and Early Learning
Conversation 9 From God and Church to Awe and Wonder: Spirituality and Creativity in Early Childhood Education
PART FOUR: LINKING THE PAST WITH THE PRESENT
1. Children's Rights
2. The Arts and Creativity
3. Literacy
4. Play, Learning and Pedagogy
5. Early Intervention
6. Home Learning and Parental Involvement in Early Education
7. Inclusion
8. Professional Development and Training