
SEFDEY
The Early Years Handbook for Students and Practitioners: An Essential Guide for the Foundation Degree and Levels 4 and 5
The Early Years Handbook for Students and Practitioners is a comprehensive and accessible course text for all degree level students undertaking programmes related to early years and childhood studies. Designed and written by the SEFDEY Professional Association and a team of new expert contributors, this text provides a balanced approach to the subjects discussed and encourages you to consider and challenge perceptions of early years and to promote good professional practice.
This edition has been extended to cover the learning and development of children from birth to 8 years and features new chapters on research, risk, neuroscience, the environment and more. Divided into four parts - The Student-Practitioner-Professional; The Learning and Development of Children 0-8; The Child, Family and Society; and The Senior Practitioner-Professional - the book covers all aspects of working with young children and engages you with theory that is explicitly linked to your practice.
In each chapter, the book seeks to help you develop your professional identity and includes:
-
Activities to help you to reflect on your own practice
-
Debates and dilemmas to promote discussion between students and colleagues
-
Real-life case studies and photographs to illustrate key points
-
Extended "reflective thinking" boxes outlining key research in the field and implications for practice
-
Suggestions for key projects to help those looking for research topics




SEFDEY National Conference 2023
Late spring (TBC) - Location TBC
in support of the Huddersfield Conference Exploring Professionalism & Leadership in Early Childhood Education & Care https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-professionalism-leadership-in-early-childhood-education-care-tickets-513827210017?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Our SEFDEY Conference aims to consider the unique needs of babies and young children under-three and how to best meet them in practice
We are extremely pleased to be able to welcome everyone back this year to our hybrid annual conference by offering free attendance to all our members and guests, whether selecting to attend in person or online.
The event provides excellent opportunities for CPD for early years lecturers, HE students, practitioners, employers, early years advisors and policymakers. Anyone with a professional interest in Early Years is welcome to attend. You will learn from our two outstanding keynote speakers:
1st Keynote Presentation:
To be Confirmed
2nd Keynote Presentation:
To be confirmed
Certificates of attendance can be requested and sent via email following the event.
Hosted once again by Staffordshire University, we are fortunate to have access to their state-of-the-art facilities created specifically for hybrid events such as this.



Some recent publications by SEFDEY members



Sefdey Book
The Early Years Handbook for Students and Practitioners: An essential guide for the foundation degree and levels 4 and 5
First Edition Feb 2016
Second Edition March 2023

