This indepth study of four year olds' experiences in five British schools (two nursery and three primary) indicates that, in primary schools, quality provision depends partly on local education authority admission policies and school resource allocation levels. (MLH)

This article traces the development in Britain of the 'real' book approach to children learning to read. It begins with reference to Kenneth Goodman's seminal work in psycholinguistics published in the late 1960s. It goes on to draw on the work of Margaret Meek at the London Institute of Education and Liz Waterland, a teacher in an English primary…

The Cynon Valley Project in Wales, United Kingdom, used funding from the Save the Children Fund and the Bernard van Leer Foundation to address consequences of economic decline in the two communities of Fernhill and Perthcelyn. The project's focus was on early childhood education and community development. Though starting at about the same time and…

Examines science education in the United Kingdom for young children with special needs in science, and the theoretical underpinnings to children's early scientific experiences. Discusses methods of identifying young children with scientific aptitude. Examines use of children's early descriptions and explanations as emergent theorizing and use of…

During summer 1998, the British government's Department for Education and Employment recognized 74 schools as model "beacons of excellence." A recent survey reveals that effective communication, coupled with a clear sense of purpose and vision, has enabled Beacon schools to maintain educational excellence while facilitating other…

A study documented, evaluated, and compared the quality of education provided to 3- and 4-year-old children in diverse settings in the United Kingdom. The study also explored the relationship between different forms of child care settings and children's educational experiences, and considered the use of a combination of an evaluation of…

This publication describes the education and initial vocational training systems for young people in the Member States of the European Community. The section for each country represents the particularities of the individual nation. In each case, the first chapter deals with the responsibilities for and administration of the education system. The…

The experience of designing and making installations of school furniture in collaboration with three countries--Norway, Portugal, and Spain--and of performing additional work in France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom provides the basis for this report. The ages of the pupils in the schools concerned ranged from 3 to 13 years. A theme of…

Examined were the purposes and problems, as well as the present status and trends, of pre-school educational evaluation in seven European countries; Belgium, France, Germany (Federal Republic), Netherlands, Scandanavia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. These analysis required that national surveys be written which would first give brief…

Describes how infants of six to seven years old can learn floating and sinking. The work described in this article was inspired by the Elementary Science Study (ESS). (HM)

Describes a longitudinal and ecological methodology for evaluating innovation in preschool education which features the involvement of those responsible for the innovation being evaluated. Reviews the use of this methodology in an evaluation of community nursery schools in the Strathclyde region of Scotland. (MDM)

Discusses a survey of family literacy in which 30 Asian families with preschool children, whose first language is Urdu, Punjabi, or Gujerati, shared their home literacy experiences. Reports that parents encourage extensive preschool activities in the home, have high aspirations for the their children's education, and show an interest in…

This paper reports on the findings of an investigation of the experiences of three and four year olds who had all-day provision, either in one preschool education and care setting or from a combination of providers. Here the data gathered about the children's experience and perspectives is reported. The evidence from the children suggests that if…

This British report demonstrates the importance of early learning as a preparation for effective education to promote social welfare and social order, and to develop a world-class workforce. It shows how countries benefit from providing good preschool education for children. Chapter 1 summarizes the case for the systematic public provision of high…

This study examined patterns of social interactions and play activities in Japanese day care settings. Fifty children between 6 and 36 months of age in five day care centers in Tokyo were observed over several prescribed time intervals. Variables measured during the observations included: (1) type of social interaction; (2) type of activity…