ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book draws upon early years workers' real experiences in practice and reveals some of the 'grey' areas that frustrate and confront them. It focuses on recognition of the importance of supervision as a professional obligation. The book offers practical tips on implementing policy by suggesting a role for parenting education classes. It also focuses on the real experiences of practitioners, not just on safeguarding and child protection as an academic subject for study. The book deals with the gaps in the understanding of policy and guidance and the grey areas of practice that hinder or confound good practice. It finally discusses a good deal that relates to children in specific circumstances such as parental mental health problems, substance misuse and domestic violence, parental learning disability and the misuse of ICT.
