This book is intended to be a contribution to raising the awareness of primary teachers and trainee teachers as to what is involved in all the different professional dimensions of their work in schools. The book deals with the key professional issues in primary teaching that are addressed in primary teacher training courses. The book aims to enable the reader to understand the nature of primary education in England and the professional demands made upon primary school teachers, including those from parents, the children themselves, the law, government agencies, society and the profession. The book includes the following chapters: (1) Primary Education in England (Ann Oliver); (2) The School Environment (Helena Campion); (3) Teachers' Values and Professional Practice in Primary Schools (Sue Cox); (4) Teaching as a Profession (Ralph Manning); (5) Primary School Teachers and the Law (Peter Gibley); (6) School Governors (Tony Blake); (7) Parents and Teachers Working Together (Ann Browne); (8), The Primary Teacher's Responsibility for Pastoral Care (Gill Blake); (9) Special Educational Needs in Mainstream Primary Schools (Ann Browne); (10) Teaching and Learning in Special Schools (Maggie Woods); (11) Gifted and Talented Pupils in Primary Schools (Derek Haylock); (12) Gender Issues in Primary Schools (Jennifer Smith); (13) Education for a Multicultural Society (Fiona Thangata); (14) Personal, Social and Health Education (Rob Barnes); (15) Spiritual Development, Moral Development and Citizenship Education (Barbara Vanlint and Jacqueline Watson); (16) Religion in the Primary School Context (Linda Rudge); and (17) Induction into the Profession (Sue Lawes). References and an index are also included.