A Care Manifesto for the Early Years : The Need for an Ethic of Care in Childcare Policy and Practice

Amid increasing policy and funding pressures, and a dangerously overstretched workforce, the early years sector in the UK is facing a profound crisis. A focus on education at the expense of care has contributed to the complexities of childcare practice being overlooked and undervalued.

Drawing on 35 years of experience working in the early years sector, and supported by rigorous scholarly research, this book calls for a fundamental rethinking of how we care for our youngest children. Taking an ethics of care perspective, brought to life by practical examples, it demonstrates how ethical sensemaking and embodied care can support better, more inclusive, affordable and non-exploitative childcare provision.

Offering a compelling vision for change, this book is essential reading for students, academics and policy makers in early years education and care, as well as anyone seeking to create environments where young children, families and educators can thrive.