Christmas offer

Newly published this month is Child Development from Birth to Eight: AJourney through the Early Years by Maria Robinson, which draws onsources including developmental psychology, attachment theory andneuroscience, and covers various pedagogical approaches. Ms Robinson isthe author of Nursery World's pullout series, 'Child Development: Yourguide to the first five years', which continues this week on the themeof 'the beautiful brain'. The new book is priced at 19.99, butNursery World readers can order it until 31 January for 15.99 byvisiting www.openup.co.uk/education or phoning +44 1628 502700. Pleasequote promotional code: ROBINSON7.

Children should be allowed to talk more in class, education experts haveargued in new reports published last week as part of the Primary Review,the biggest inquiry into English primary education for 40 years. TheCambridge University study, which draws on the findings of more than 500published sources, highlights the need for pretend play in the earlyyears and for structured talk and peer collaboration at the primarystage. The study says that classroom tasks should aim to encourageco-operation and group cohesion instead of competitiveness. For moredetails see www.primaryreview.org.uk.