Leadership in the early years is about using your knowledge, skills, personality and experience to positively influence practice. Every practitioner has the capacity to lead, and in doing so, improve opportunities for children and their families. Examining the various roles of early years practitioners, and the everyday challenges and opportunities they face, this book promotes leadership of early childhood practice by considering the following; · Who the leaders are, and what skills they require · The variety of ways a practitioner can lead within a setting · Key roles including the team leader and the key person · How to develop a culture of leadership · The importance of working with families and other professionals · Improving leading through reflective practice. Whether you are a room leader in an early childhood setting needing support in your leadership skills, a manager of an early childhood business, a leader of a nursery, a leader of practice or studying to become an early years practitioner this book is ideal for helping you improve your leadership skills.

Featuring both research findings and practical recommendations, this book presents an innovative framework for nurturing leadership in the care and education of young children. Early educators are often seen as the objects of change, rather than the architects and co-creators of change. Douglass calls for a paradigm shift in thinking that challenges many long-held stereotypes about the early care and education workforce’s capacity to lead change. Case studies show how educators use their expertise every day to make a difference in the lives of children and families. These accounts demonstrate concrete strategies for expanding current thinking about who can be leaders for change and for developing more inclusive pathways for leadership. This book has the potential to revolutionize the field with a new model for developing and nurturing innovative, entrepreneurial, and skilled early educator leaders capable of driving transformative change—from classrooms and home-based programs to communities and beyond. “Douglass boldly calls for a re-envisioning of access to leadership in early care and education.” —From the Foreword by Lea J. E. Austin, co-director, Center for the Study of Child Care Employment “Provides a new and motivating lens for improving early childhood education ‘on the ground.’ This is a welcome and significant contribution to the field.” —Stacie G. Goffin, principal, Goffin Strategy Group “Offers a new framework for thinking about leadership development, including research findings and practical recommendations to create clear pathways and a supportive ecosystem.” —Marilou Hyson, consultant, Early Childhood Development and Education

Theory meets practical tips in this guide for leaders of early childhood programs

Leadership in Early Childhood is a practical resource for early childhood practitioners who want to understand how to create successful childcare and early education settings. Leadership in the early years has moved on in the way it is organised, and this fourth edition has been fully revised and updated to reflect the changes affecting leaders in early childhood. This rapid change in the field over the past few years includes moves to professionalise the workforce generally, and this edition recognizes the implications of these developments and revisits some of the concepts and messages. Praised for its excellent overview of early years leadership, accessible writing style and clear links between theory and practice, the fourth edition also includes: Thorough discussion of the leader’s role in moving towards leading/best practice. Reconceptualised coverage of team building to consider working collaboratively as a team at service level, multi disciplinary teams and integrated service provision through multi agency working. A chapter which considers the essential characteristics of leadership in terms of personal qualities, skills and timing related to effective leadership.

...a major contribution to the limited literature and research on leadership in childhood education.′ - Professor Tony Bush, Editor of Educational Management, Administration and Leadership. ′This important book focuses clearly on evidence, describing the realities of leading and managing settings in times of rapid policy changes. Carol Aubrey manages to combine theory, research and practice in a book that will be invaluable to a new generation of early years professionals.′ - Angela Anning, Emeritus Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of Leeds, UK ′..skilfully draws on sound empirical research to present a grounded theory model for leadership in early years education. ....of interest to researchers, students and practitioners internationally.′ - Professor Nithi Muthukrishna, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa This Second Edition of Leading and Managing in the Early Years explores and integrates leadership and management practice with a real understanding of early years settings. Revised and updated, this new edition includes: - Two new chapters on private day care and reflective practice and action research - Further coverage of reflective practice and reflective leadership skills - More on EYPS as well as integrated centre leadership - Practical suggestions for working with resistant groups and individuals. Carol Aubrey investigates different concepts and characteristics of Early Childhood (EC) leadership as well as the roles and responsibilities of EC leaders. She also explores the types of leadership programmes or development which are needed to maximise the effectiveness of EC leaders. This book is essential reading for students in Early Childhood courses, Early Years Practitioners and local authority employees involved with the integrated centres initiative. Carol Aubrey is Professor of Early Childhood Studies at the University of Warwick.

Collective leadership is based on shared decision-making, transparency, and involving the people affected by change in the process. Current research shows that a collective approach to leadership is advantageous to organizations and Five Elements of Collective Leadership for Early Childhood Professionals helps teachers, providers, administrators, and system change leaders think differently about opportunities available to lead, and incorporate a collective approach into programs.

′This book is a very useful resource for setting leaders undertaking advanced study, such as Early Years Professional Status and the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership...[I]t is also an interesting and up-to-date reference tool for qualified managers and leaders of early years settings, large and small, in all sectors′ - Early Years Update ′Through discussion points and case studies, the authors explore the key skills and techniques necessary to effectively lead and manage an early years setting - Nursery Education Plus, as part of their ′Ten of the Best early years professional books′ feature. `This book will make a relevant and helpful contribution in enabling practitioners to explore and understand the different ways in which they can lead and manage across a diverse range of settings and at different levels. Through helpful discussion points and case studies, the book will encourage practitioners to consider both theory and practice, including value based practice and the skills required for working within a new multi-disciplinary environment. A welcome and accessible text for early years practitioners facing the challenges and demands of this new agenda′ - Professor Linda Miller, Professor of Early Years, The Open University Firmly grounded in practice, this book puts children and families at the centre of good early years leadership. There is now considerable emphasis on leadership skills in this sector, as the workforce becomes increasingly professionalized. The following are considered: - changes and developments within the early years sector - the impact of good leadership on children and their families - effective practice in a variety of settings, including Children′s Centres - value-based leadership, and inspirational leadership - meeting the challenges - managing change - inter-agency and multi-disciplinary working - working with families and parent groups. Useful features such as Activities for Continuing Professional Development, Questions for Reflection and Pictures of Practice appear throughout the book. Those studying for Foundation Degrees, leaders undertaking the National Professional Qualification for Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL), those undertaking the management modules for Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) and anyone studying Childhood and Early Childhood will find this book an invaluable aid.

Early childhood educators are keenly aware of the importance of a child’s transition to “real school.” This transition is occurring earlier in a child’s life now that school districts nationwide are moving to pre-kindergarten experiences for 3- and 4-year olds. Annually, more than one million children attend public school pre-k programs overseen by elementary school principals who, although veteran educational leaders, were not trained to oversee these programs. Although pre-k classrooms are rapidly growing and deserve special attention, school leaders must be reminded that early childhood means more than pre-kindergarten; it extends through third grade. School leadership needs to understand the principles of early childhood education to effectively support all children age three to grade three. Professional and Ethical Consideration for Early Childhood Leaders is a collection of innovative research that crafts an overall understanding of the importance of early childhood leadership in today’s schools. The book employs strategies to improve support for children in early childhood years, examines the different roles of early childhood leadership, analyzes best practices for implementation in early childhood contexts, and explores improvements for leadership preparation for schools with pre-k through third-grade children. While highlighting a wide range of topics including advocacy, cultural responses, and professional development, this publication is ideally designed for educators, administrators, principals, early childhood development teachers, daycare instructors, curriculum developers, advocates, researchers, academicians, and students.

In this inspiring collection, 13 early childhood leaders take action to challenge and change inequitable educational practices in preschools and elementary schools. For them, educating for social justice is not an empty platitude. Steadfast and resolute, they turn rhetoric into reality as they guide early childhood teachers to teach for social justice innovatively and strategically. Through the voices of families, teachers, and the administrators themselves, each chapter shares ways that these leaders use the power entrusted in them to question and disrupt discriminatory and marginalizing practices that deny opportunities for some students while privleging others. The book includes insights, strategies, and resources that administrators can use to build confidence, knowledge, and skills as they invest in more equitable and just pre/schools.