ABSTRACT
There is general concern for the children, but too little concern for the teachers who have to face the task of providing them with nursery education while others expect them to be treated as infant children. This chapter broadens the teaching range for our consideration to 3 to 8 years, to include nursery teachers, who together with the teachers of 4-year-olds feel particular disaffection about their training for their roles. Management of staff and sensitive leadership of a nursery team should be a major component in any early years course. Students on initial training courses must be given the basis for developing a curriculum appropriate to the needs of the children and the constraints of the teaching situation. The teacher needs to liaise with and utilise the services of social workers, health visitors, child minders, play group leaders and many others so that the children and families with whom she is working are best served.
