Multi-Agency Working in the Early Years: Challenges and Opportunities

Getting multi-agency working right is an exciting but often challenging goal in early years care and education; this book guides you through the process by suggesting ways in which you can draw together the different professional ideas, methods and targets of all early years workers.

Enhancing the delivery of services to children, parents and communities is essential if we are to address the detrimental effects of poverty and exclusion.

Looking at the Birth to 8 age range, issues examined include:

- the nature, benefits and complexities of multi-agency working;

- what enables or impedes good practice;

- successful leadership and management in multi-agency settings;

- what the 'new professionals' look like;

- international perspectives.

The book is supported by recent research conducted with leaders of Children's Centres.

Suitable for students on any early years course, including those working towards Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) and the National Professional Qualification for Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL), this book is relevant to all pre-school and early years practitioners and all involved in working in or organizing multi-agency practice at any level, including administrators.

Michael Gasper is an educational consultant and researcher. He has over 30 years of experience in early years education and research, including roles as a mentor, assessor and tutor on the NPQICL.