News

Editor's view

Gender is the timely subject for our special eight-page pull-out this week. Timely, because what has been accepted as good practice in this area now needs to be rethought and refined. In a climate where boys' under-achievement has become a concern, early years practitioners need to look at whether restricted opportunities to play outdoors and to move freely are having a detrimental effect for all children, but particularly for boys.
Gender is the timely subject for our special eight-page pull-out this week. Timely, because what has been accepted as good practice in this area now needs to be rethought and refined. In a climate where boys'

under-achievement has become a concern, early years practitioners need to look at whether restricted opportunities to play outdoors and to move freely are having a detrimental effect for all children, but particularly for boys.

The fact that the early years workforce is overwhelmingly female also needs careful consideration. Read 'All About Gender' for sound information and advice and look at ways to reflect on your practice.

Working with parents is also a significant issue for early years staff, and our Special Report (p10-11) looks at what happens when parental anxieties spill over into aggression and at how respect and communication can be established.

One high-tech aid to communication with parents is, of course, a website. If you're keen to set one up or to improve what you've got, see next week's Nursery World for details of how to win your own site plus three years'

servicing from a top nursery website specialist company.