Reconceptualising learning and teaching about early years leadership, management, and multidisciplinary roles

The role of leadership and management in early childhood settings is critical to the quality of service provided and has the potential to transform the lives of children, families, and communities. It has been increasingly recognised that effective early years leadership is related to high quality provision for young children and their families, particularly children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Therefore, it can be argued that the role of early years leadership and management is highly significant, particularly at a time of declining public expenditure in the UK, growing inequalities, with 3.6 million children living in poverty, and concerns over child protection and community cohesion.
Early years leadership and management is the subject of a third year undergraduate module, Leadership and Management and Multidisciplinary Roles in Early Years Settings. The module forms part of an Early Childhood Studies degree delivered by a London university with a socio-culturally diverse student population, including overseas franchised provision. This article aims to discuss a review of this module undertaken by its tutors. The wider Early Years Education and Care (ECEC) policy context is also considered, since policy is an integral part of the module, as is the development of “policy literacy.”

Access to full text restricted pending copyright check.

Special Edition: The changing nature of educational leadership