Being, Becoming and Thriving as an Early Years Practitioner captures the authentic and often humorous experiences that occur when working with young children, providing a comprehensive and accessible guide to the reality of early years practice. Designed to support practitioners through the early stages of their careers, it reveals what child development theory looks like in practice through real-life examples and case studies alongside guidance on practitioner wellbeing, continuous professional development (CPD), and studying alongside work. The book is structured around three key themes: BEING, BECOMING, and THRIVING. Each theme is divided into several chapters, and they cover a range of topics which will support you on your academic and professional journey including: ● Being a reflective practitioner ● Inclusion ● Key theorists ● Creativity ● The foundations of Play ● Reflection and Reflective Practice ● Continuous professional development Aligned to some of the core components for Early Years and Education with additional depth for level 4 students, the book blends theory and practice with humour and honesty, revealing what makes the Early Years such a magical sector in which to work. Including tools and activities to support your professional and academic journey, this is essential reading for early years students and practitioners.