ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book shows the continuing relevance of many of the findings, and reports on an ongoing research into baseline assessment and school readiness. In 1989, an all-party select committee stressed the importance of early education in its own right and as a foundation for the whole process of schooling (House of Commons 1989). The importance of parents as educators and of building bridges between home and school was recognized. Although education and care are among the powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, and terminology may vary, many of the current trends in preschool education and care are similar. Further improvements to accessibility and quality will depend on a faster expansion of the workforce involved in early education and childcare. A number of initiatives were planned to assist practitioners to assess and improve the quality of learning in their centres.
