Dr Shelly Newstead has worked in the playwork field for thirty years as a practitioner, trainer, author, editor and researcher. She has managed a wide range of child-centred settings and developed and delivered a series of management skills training courses specifically for this field through Common Threads (www.commonthreads.org.uk). Emma Isles-Buck at one time worked as a trainer and manager in childcare and playwork. In addition, she was an assessor and external verifier for playwork NVQs, helping to develop playwork qualifications for CACHE and developing management courses and workshops for many different client groups in the UK and in Europe.
Praise for previous editions: ‘I found this book really insightful and a manageable read – everything is broken down into easy to read chunks. I've taken a lot from the book and the main message for me was that you need to be confident about your ideas, vision and objectives as a person as well as a manager.’ Laura Watkins, manager at St Mary’s Fun Club, St Mary’s C of E Primary School, Barnsley, UK.