Understanding the Steiner Waldorf Approach

This fully revised edition of 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 early childhood approach. It enables the reader to analyse the essential elements of the Steiner Waldorf Approach to early childhood and its relationship to quality early years practice.

Covering all areas of the curriculum including observation and assessment, child development, play, repetition and the environment, this new edition has been updated to reflect recent curriculum changes and explore the influence of media and technology. Including a new chapter on expanding the Steiner Waldorf approach to work with children from birth to three, the book:

• describes the key principles of the Steiner Waldorf approach to early childhood with examples from Steiner settings;
• provides an accessible and objective overview of a key pedagogical influence on high quality early years practice in the United Kingdom;
• highlights the key ideas that practitioners should consider when reviewing their own practice;
• contains summaries of key points and reflective practice questions to help students and practitioners engage with the ideas in the book.
• 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 text is essential reading for students, practitioners, leaders, managers and all those wanting to improve their early years practice.

Mary Whalley, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK The book is very comprehensive and will introduce those with little or no knowledge of Steiner-Waldorf philosophy very effectively to the approach, whilst also providing a refreshing recap and reference for those who already know a little or more. As with the two previous books in the series, this book outlines the Steiner-Waldorf approach in excellent detail – setting its historical context very clearly and – rightly – promoting its global significance right up to the present time.

Heather Lowe, Infant School Head There are not a great number of books published that give a clear account and background of the Steiner approach. The advantages of the proposed book is that it will be completely up to date and lays out its philosophy very clearly for 0 to 7 year olds. I do recommend that you publish an updated edition.

Jan Marks, University of Chester This book gives a clear overview of the principles behind the Steiner Waldorf approach and how it could be used in early years settings. I have used this book, mainly with the Level 4 (first Year) Early Childhood Studies undergraduates. It is important that they understand a range of approaches to early years education. Steiner is one of the main pioneers that we look at. Texts such as this one give the students the opportunity to compare and contrast and identify appropriate practice.

Clare Boucher, Greenwich Community College Yes I do recommend that you publish the Second Edition of this book. Janni Nicol & Jill Tina Taplin are obviously experts in this field and they provide invaluable insight into the Steiner Waldorf Approach. An invaluable resource, rich in content and supportive of CPD as well as Early Years students, supporting their learning of this Approach. I love the ‘Understanding the… ‘ range of books, they provide excellent insight into some of the principle childcare approaches. A brilliant book!

Janni Nicol has worked as a Steiner kindergarten 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.

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