Penny Farrelly comes from a Health Visiting background and is passionate about the health and well being of young children. She teaches evidence based practice on the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing programme and has helped to develop the Sector Endorsed Foundation Degree Early Years and the BA (Hons) Practice Development (Early Years) for both of which she is a Senior Lecturer. She is also co-course leader for the Foundation Degree Working with Children and Young People, all at Buckinghamshire New University.

"The perfect introduction to the expectations of an Early Years Foundation degree student. The guide is not only excellent for the new student, it is also beneficial throughout their studies as there is relevance to many other modules." (Lecturer, University Centre Doncaster)

• Introduction - work-based learning for Early Years and Early Childhood StudiesThe Early Years sector in the UK - the current contextEarly Years studyBecoming an early years professionalSupporting children′s learning and development in practice - developing your specialist knowledgeCurrent debates in Early Years education and provisionThe future - Early Years Professional Status