Early Years

Aims & Scope

Early Years: An International Research Journal publishes research papers and scholarly critiques on all issues associated with early childhood education and care.

The journal’s overall approach is international and multi-disciplinary, aiming to broaden the cross-national debate by representing a wide range of perspectives from different countries, different disciplines and different research methodologies and paradigms.

As the official journal of TACTYC (Association for the Professional Development of Early Years Educators), a particular focus of Early Years is the initial and continuing professional development of early years practitioners for the increasingly complex and demanding work within multi-professional teams and with families from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds.

The editors welcome original and clearly written contributions, in English, which: -Relate to the initial education, training and continuing professional development of the full spectrum of early years practitioners, including centre leaders and managers, group leaders (teachers, pedagogues, educators), support staff, and higher education academics -Analyse understandings of pedagogy, professionalism and professional work across cultural and national contexts -Foreground children’s rights and inclusive practices towards family diversity in different settings and contexts -Report on research projects -Review work across a specific area of research -Review policy frameworks and goals related to early childhood education and care

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	1
2024	1.30

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	9809

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	313

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.592

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q2

h-index

Year	Value
2024	41

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Psychology and Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• Digital play: a new classification

  Citation: 176

  Authors: Jackie, Lydia, Dylan, Julia, Fiona

• Reconstructing professionalism in ECEC: the case for the ‘critically reflective emotional professional’

  Citation: 173

  Authors: Jayne

• Physical Risk-taking: Dangerous or endangered?

  Citation: 156

  Authors: ALISON

• Learning in the outdoor environment: a missed opportunity?

  Citation: 144

  Authors: Trisha, Jane

• Don’t we care?: the ethics and emotional labour of early years professionalism

  Citation: 124

  Authors: Geoff

• ‘Would you like to tidy up now?’ An analysis of adult questioning in the English Foundation Stage

  Citation: 114

  Authors: Iram, Laura

• Contemporary trends and developments in early childhood education in China

  Citation: 108

  Authors: Jiaxiong, Jie

• An ecological exploration of young children’s digital play: framing children’s social experiences with technologies in early childhood

  Citation: 108

  Authors: Lorna

• Professionalism and performativity: the feminist challenge facing early years practitioners

  Citation: 98

  Authors: Jayne

• A framework for teaching learning: the dynamics of disposition

  Citation: 93

  Authors: Guy, Margaret

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