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Planning an Appropriate Curriculum for the Under Fives: a Guide for Students, Teachers and Assistants (Second Edition).

By Rosemary Rodger

(David Fulton, ISBN 1 85346 912 2, 16, 020 8996 3618) Reviewed by Marian Whitehead, language and early years consultant This is a useful handbook for teachers, assistants and students - and interested parents - to read, discuss and 'dip into' regularly. It is a post-Foundation Stage rewriting of a book that was first published in 1999 and aimed particularly at young people setting out on their early years careers.

The text is exceptionally clearly presented and features summary tables of statutory requirements and advisory principles, as well as examples of good practice in bold type inserts. It starts with four chapters on the big issues in early years practice: an inclusive curriculum; writing an early years policy and curriculum planning; assessment and record keeping; and leadership and management in the early years. The latter topic is a major area of continuing professional development, at a time when so many settings are becoming multi-professional and require a very special kind of leadership. The author focuses mainly on the inspection issues.