This sourcebook offers a unique summary into all that was important in primary education during the 1990s. It provides almost fifty key readings on the field which are grouped around six major topics:

1. Introduction: Teaching and learning in the 1990's Part 1. Learners 2. How Children Learn ... and Fail 3. Towards a Sociology of Learning in Primary Schools 4. Bilingual by Rights 5. Sex Roles in the Formative Years 6. Learner Needs or Learner Rights? Part 2. Teachers 7. The Teacher as a Person 8. Teacher Expertise 9. Teaching as a Professional Activity 10. Those who Understand: Knowledge growth in teaching 11. A First Try: Starting the day 12. Akemi 13. Teacher Expectations Part 3. Classrooms 14. Life in Classrooms 15. Characteristics of Good Practice 16. The Rise and Fall of Primary Education 17. The 'Three Wise Men' and After 18. Teaching Strategies 19. An Approach to Personal and Social Education in the Primary School: Or how one school teacher tried to make sense of her job Part 4. Curriculum 20. The Core Curriculum: An international perspective 22. The National Curriculum: Origins, context and implementation 22. Coherence and Manageability: Reflections on the National Curriculum and cross-curricular provision 24. The Evolution of the Topic 25. Preserving Integration within the National Curriculum in Primary Schools - Approaching a school development plan 25. Successful Topic Work 26. The Classteacher and the Curriculum 27. Teachers' Subject Knowledge 28. Assessment and the Improvement of Education 29. Target Setting with Young Children Part 5. Schools 30. The Organisation of the Primary School 31. Key Factors for Effective Junior Schooling 32. The Culture of Collaboration 33. St Andrew's Church of England Primary School 34. Involving the Whole Staff in Developing a Maths Curriculum 35. Primary - Secondary Transfer after the National Curriculum 36. Parents' Choice of School 37. Involving Parents