"Understanding the Te Wh?ariki Approach is a much-needed source of information for those wishing to extend and consolidate their understanding of the Te Wh?ariki approach, introducing the reader to an innovative bicultural curriculum developed for early childhood services in New Zealand. It will enable the reader to analyse the essential elements of this approach to early childhood and its relationship to quality early years practice. Providing students and practitioners with the relevant information about a key pedagogical influence on high quality early years practice in the United Kingdom, the book explores all areas of the curriculum, emphasising: - strong curriculum connections to families and the wider community; - a view of teaching and learning that focuses on responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places and things; - a view of curriculum content as cross-disciplinary and multi-modal; - the aspirations for children to grow up as competent and confid