Search

Childminders in England have historically been seen as marginal providers of childcare, fulfilling Bruner's description of the service as an "accordion pleat" in provision. This article outlines the history and current position of childminders in English early childhood policy, and then reports on the views on this role of childminders who participated in focus groups to discuss the statutory requirements for their role. The participants describe their feelings about their role, revealing tensions between the maternal and professional aspects of their practice, the "expert" and "common-sense" contributions they make, and the ways in which they perceive adherence to regulatory frameworks as undermining the relationships with parents, which form a core theme in their self-perception.

Recent developments in early childhood research in the UK suggest there is a good deal of current knowledge as to "what works" in early education, including what helps to narrow the gap between more and less advantaged pupils. A broad consensus now exists in many parts of the English-speaking world as to the forms of provision, including curriculum and pedagogy, environment and ethos, which are most likely to support children's well-being and their development. This consensus is described as evidence-based because the findings from very large studies have informed policy and practice, and have been widely disseminated. This article summarizes some aspects of the current consensus--on learning through play, respecting diversity, listening to children--and asks some critical questions about the implementation of these principles in practice. Through examining some small examples of interactions in day care and classrooms, it asks whether current confidence about the nature of good practice has prevented researchers from asking difficult questions and challenging orthodoxies. It suggests some topics which might inform the agenda of future research, ensuring that rather than resting on their laurels, researchers attempt to listen carefully to children and families and take both them and their culture seriously.

This paper draws on recent re-conceptualisations of the notions of "care" and "caring" (Noddings, 1992; Tronto, 1993) to explore data from semi-structured interviews with the parents and key workers for about twenty children under three who were attending two London children's centres. Located in an environment of frequent new policy initiatives, including an advocacy of parental partnership, it seeks to describe the ways that these adults construct their mutual relationships, and the difficulties which may attend this process. Class and cultural differences, as well as conflicting understandings of "professionalism" are shown to inform the development of the "triangle of care", with potential consequences for the care and welfare of the small child on whom the relationship is focused.

This article draws on data from two recent studies of young children in early childhood settings. One study was of children in a Korean private kindergarten, the other of children in a UK reception class. In each study, the data discussed include both evidence from "home" (including parent interviews) and evidence from "school" (including conversations with the children themselves) on the gendered and ethnic identities the children display in the classroom. The children's stated beliefs and preferences, and their observed choice of activities and friends, appear to be influenced both by the beliefs and behaviour of their families, and by the early childhood environments they are offered. The transition from home to group settings, it is suggested, may reinforce rather than diminish the stereotyping along gendered and ethnic lines, while participation in "research" conversations may provide a rare opportunity for the children to question and reflect on stereotypes.

This article discusses some findings from a small-scale investigation of children's gendered beliefs and behaviours in a Korean kindergarten which was attempting to challenge gender stereotyping through the anti-bias intervention of a "cooking curriculum". A sample of 14 children, some with "working" mothers and some with "housewife" mothers, was observed for two months, and informally interviewed on several occasions. The children's mothers were also interviewed. The findings are situated in the context of the changing, but still traditional, culture of Korean society, as well as in the contexts of early childhood education and theories of gender acquisition. They confirm that, although children are highly likely to reproduce the beliefs current in their home environment, they are open to reconstructing these views when actively challenged to consider alternatives, either by the school curriculum or by engaging in debate with a researcher or practitioner. The nature of the "alternative" views available may however be problematic.

This paper discusses one aspect of the findings from an ethnographic study of the ways in which four-year-old children learn, and are taught, at home and in their Reception class. The children were from two distinctive cultural backgrounds within the same urban neighbourhood: one-half belonged to UK ("Anglo") families, and one-half to families from Bangladesh. They were observed and assessed throughout their first school year, and additional data were collected from interviews with parents, practitioners and the children themselves. Analysis of the data suggested that one way of understanding the variation in the children's experiences was through the ethnotheories, or cultural belief systems, of their home communities--such as their parents' concepts of childhood, and their theories of intelligence and instruction. The paper argues that such differences in children's home preparation have consequences for their school experience, and carry implications for their school providers. The study of parental ethnotheories, therefore, may help to explain, and alleviate, the differences in school achievement of children from diverse backgrounds. However, accessing respondents' personal theories presents both ethical and methodological problems, particularly when the researcher is working with socially disadvantaged groups. (Contains 1 figure.)

Notes that rapid introduction of information and communication technologies in United Kingdom schools, along with government-mandated curriculum requirements, has not been matched by growth in practitioners' understanding of appropriate ways to use the technology. Examines the successful implementation of technology in early childhood settings where less pressure to meet strict guidelines allows more opportunity to experiment with child-centered practice. (TJQ)