Transforming early childhood in England: Towards a democratic education

Abstract

This is a refreshing and timely book that uses multiple perspectives on the state of early childhood \neducation and care (ECEC) in the UK. The words ‘hit’, ‘nail’ and ‘head’ come to mind when reading the analysis of the state of ECEC since the post-war period. The book paints a vivid picture of \nefforts to develop and professionalise ECEC against a backdrop of indifference and indecision \nfrom successive governments and reverses of any progress that has been made. \nTransforming Early Childhood in England starts with mention of the COVID-19 pandemic and \nthe effect this may have on ECEC, and there is almost a juxtaposition between this and ‘unfettered \nneo-liberalism’. It may be, as the book states, that the COVID-19 pandemic offers opportunities to \nrethink and start again, but whether such opportunities will overcome neo-liberal dogma as well is \nopen to question. The book makes a good case for the ‘tinkering’ that ECEC has undergone. \nWithout any unified or serious endeavour, ECEC has become a fragmented consumer product left \nto the invisible hand of the market. ECEC is, as the book states more than once, based on political \ndecisions, and decisions supporting ECEC have not been forthcoming.

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