This text investigates the specific pedagogical responsibilities and professional functions of educators within infant and nursery school environments. D. E. M. Gardner, a recognized authority in early childhood education, utilizes observational data and classroom case studies to define the teacher's role in fostering child development. The work argues that the teacher acts as a facilitator of social and intellectual growth rather than a mere instructor, emphasizing the importance of structured play and environmental design.

Experts in the field of early childhood education recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the historical development of nursery school practices. Readers frequently note the clarity of the author's observations regarding the teacher's influence on early social development.