Understanding the Steiner Waldorf Approach is a much needed source of information for those wishing to extend and consolidate their understanding of the Steiner Waldorf High Scope Approach. It will enable the reader to analyse the essential elements of the Steiner Waldorf Approach to early childhood and its relationship to quality early years practice.

Exploring all areas of the curriculum including observation and assessment, child development, play, repetition and the environment, this book:

describes the key principles of the Steiner Waldorf approach to early childhood with examples from Steiner settings;

provides students and practitioners with the relevant information about a key pedagogical influence on high quality early years practice in the United Kingdom;

highlights the key ideas that practitioners should consider when reviewing and reflecting on their own practice;

can be used as the basis for continuing professional development and action research

Written to support the work of all those in the field of early years education and childcare, this is a vital text for students, early years and childcare practitioners, teachers, early years professionals, children’s centre professionals, lecturers, advisory teachers, head teachers and setting managers.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: HISTORY AND FOUNDATIONS

Chapter 2: KEY PEDAGOGICAL PRINCIPLES

Chapter 3: CHILD DEVELOPMENT – THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS

Chapter 4: THE ENVIRONMENT

Chapter 5: IMITATION AND EXAMPLE

Chapter 6: PLAY AT THE HEART OF THE STEINER WALDORF SETTING

Chapter 7: RHYTHM AND REPETITION

Chapter 8: DOMESTIC AND ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES

Chapter 9: OBSERVATION AND ASSESSMENT

Chapter 10: WORKING AT PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT THE CHILD

Chapter 11: CURRENT ISSUES

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Appendix 4

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Author Bio

Janni Nicol has worked as a Sindergarten teacher in South Africa and Cambridge, UK. She is now the UK early childhood representative for Steiner Waldorf schools and kindergartens, and writes, consults and lectures on Steiner early childhood in the UK and internationally.

Jill Tina Taplin works in teacher education in the UK and internationally, advising, teaching and writing, after many years as a Steiner kindergarten teacher in Scotland and England.