Early Years Pedagogy in Practice

This fully rewritten second edition invites readers into a deeper, more confident engagement with the rich and distinctive world of early years pedagogy. Far more than a set of methods or curriculum frameworks, pedagogy is explored here as a lived, relational, and reflective practice, something shaped moment by moment in the encounters between children, educators, materials, and the wider world. Throughout the book, practice-based charts sit alongside narrative discussion, offering accessible ways into complex ideas and supporting different reading rhythms within busy professional lives.

Across the reimagined chapters, the book offers a fresh, human-centred account of early years pedagogy. It weaves together updated research, practice-rooted examples, reflective invitations, and gentle provocations to help readers cultivate presence, curiosity, and ethical awareness in their work with young children. Rather than advocating a single approach, it encourages a broad, critical, and inclusive pedagogical repertoire that recognises the diversity of children’s experiences and the complexity of contemporary early childhood education and care settings.

Readers will explore:

· how to develop an authentic pedagogical identity rooted in care, curiosity, and relational understanding

· ways of nurturing children’s wonder, agency, and sense of belonging

· approaches to creating inclusive, culturally responsive environments that honour every child’s story

· how children’s rights and lived experiences can sit at the heart of everyday practice.

Warm, reflective, and deeply grounded in the realities of early years practice, this second edition offers both inspiration and practical depth. It speaks to students, as well as early years educators, practitioners, teachers, leaders, families, and scholars who wish to enrich their practice, think critically, and truly honour the complexity and beauty of childhood.

Ruksana Beigi has over 30 years of experience in the sector and is currently a Course Leader and Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at the University of East London. She teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the Department of Education. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to creative and socially responsive pedagogies, with a particular focus on how creativity can transform teaching, professional identity, and children’s experiences. Ruksana’s research interests centre on the role of the arts in education and care, exploring how creative practices can strengthen professional confidence, deepen relational practice, and support reflective thinking in early years settings. She is also passionate about how creative methods can amplify overlooked voices, challenge inequalities, and improve experiences in education. Across her work, she advocates for education that is relational, imaginative, and rooted in care. She believes creativity is not an optional extra but a vital part of how we teach, learn, and live with children and one another.