This carefully structured text will be helpful for anyone teaching or studying child development particularly with the addition of video materials to view alongside the book.Mary Briggs FRSA, CMathTeach, APECS, SFHEA, FCCT, Principal Lecturer and Programme Lead for Childhood and Education (ECS and Ed Studies), Oxford Brookes University, UKThis rich account of Gabby’s early childhood development takes the reader on an inspiring journey.Shirley Allen, School of Health and Education, Middlesex UniversityI would heartily recommend this book to any early years practitioner, who wants to better understand child development, improve the quality of their child observations and to develop their skill in linking the two seamlessly.Andrea Layzell, Project Lead and Tutor, Bradford Birth to 19 Teaching School AllianceThis book is about Gabby, an inquisitive girl who leads her own learning very effectively with support from the adults in her life. The author, her grandmother, draws on seven years of data from diaries, photos and Gabby’s own writing to consider her development and learning when cared for by both her parents and grandparents. Gabby builds on her experiences with her Latvian mother, English father and her elder sister as she faces and deals with transitions as she grows up.The chapters are presented in a chronological order as a ‘running record’ going from 0-1 year right through to 6-7 years and can be analysed through a range of theories and frameworks. With chapters considering theory and the data separately the reader can reach their own conclusions on child development before exploring the author’s analyses. Each chapter also considers the relevance of Ofsted’s Intent, Implementation and Impact framework and other theories and schemas.This book about one child's early development and learning is a fascinating insight into how young children learn for those studying or working in the early years field. It includes access to an online learning centre of video clips to bring the descriptions to life and provide further insight into Gabby’s development.Dr Cath Arnold has worked in the field of Early Childhood for over 40 years, as a practitioner/teacher, researcher, lecturer and author. Her particular interests include child study; schemas and parental involvement. This is her fifth book focussing on close observation of the spontaneous actions of young children.
