‘Effective Leadership and Management in the Early Years … is the best analysis of leadership and management that I have come across. It is a highly practical tool and a resource that will enable early years practitioners at different stages of professional development to explore, understand, rate and develop their leadership and management expertise.’ Jillian Rodd, Educational and Developmental Psychologist There has recently been an unprecedented focus on early years care and education, particularly on the impact of the various adults who work and play with children in the birth to five/six-years age range. Staff in early years settings have had to adapt to many changes and demands, locally and nationally, from local authorities and national government, and none more so than those who suddenly find themselves in a leadership and management role in increasingly complex small early years businesses and settings, often without formal training or qualifications. The book is unique in providing not only a thorough analysis of the leader and manager’s role and presenting it as a typology, but also in offering a clear and in-depth view of that role. It also presents ways in which the leader and manager can undertake self-evaluation or work alongside a peer to understand their own strengths and challenges more readily. The book conceptualises effective leadership and management as a tree, with the four key ‘branches’ of effective leadership and management defined as: Leaderships Qualities Management Skills Professional Attributes Personal Characteristics and Attitudes Effective Leadership and Management in the Early Years is an essential tool for all those who lead and manage within early years settings, which they can use for evaluating their effectiveness.

June O'Sullivan explores the concept of leadership, particularly with regards to leading Early Years centres. In line with government initiatives, there is growing pressure within the early years sector to create staff who can lead different types of childcare and family settings in order to address two main government targets. Firstly, reducing poverty among families with small children and secondly, increasing educational opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds in order to give them a better start in life. Many say that for this to happen we need people who can lead an effective team of capable, professional colleagues. This is no easy task in the modern Early Years market. O'Sullivan acknowledges the problems and provides ideas and suggestions to address the issues facing leaders so that they are supported to lead us into a future where we can all help make a big difference for a long time.

This publication takes as its background the radical reforms to services for children following the passing, in England, of The Children Act of 2004 and subsequent Government white paper, Every Child Matters: Change for Children. It argues that the fundamental requirements for leadership for learning in the early years should be provided by considering social contexts, adopting a commitment to collective working, and focusing on improving children's learning outcomes. It is based on the analysis of a wide range of literature on leadership in the early years and information taken from effective early years settings.

This book introduces an intriguing juxtaposition of "caring" alongside "effective", and it is a thought-provoking book. Including examples of early years leaders on their own reflective learning journeys, it provides a rich source of ideas for relational leadership that are firmly based in research and professional experience.′ - Professor Margaret Carr, University of Waikato, New Zealand Effective and caring leadership is an essential part of raising standards and increasing the quality of learning in early childhood settings. This book explains leadership practices that can make a positive difference to the provision offered and improve outcomes for both children and families. With theoretical, practical and research-informed perspectives, this book: Uses case studies to provide examples of effective leadership Integrates education and care with key practices in effective leadership Explores directional, collaborative, empowering and pedagogical leadership Offers readers opportunity to reflect upon their own leadership practices This is a key text for anyone studying Early Childhood, existing and aspiring leaders, graduate Early Years Leaders and those training to work in settings, schools and children’s services. Professor Iram Siraj is Professor of Early Childhood Education at the Institute of Education, University of London. Dr. Elaine Hallet is a Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the Institute of Education, University of London.

June O'Sullivan explores the concept of leadership, particularly with regards to leading Early Years centres. In line with government initiatives, there is growing pressure within the early years sector to create staff who can lead different types of childcare and family settings in order to address two main government targets. Firstly, reducing poverty among families with small children and secondly, increasing educational opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds in order to give them a better start in life. Many say that for this to happen we need people who can lead an effective team of capable, professional colleagues. This is no easy task in the modern Early Years market. O'Sullivan acknowledges the problems and provides ideas and suggestions to address the issues facing leaders so that they are supported to lead us into a future where we can all help make a big difference for a long time.

June O'Sullivan explores the concept of leadership, particularly with regards to leading Early Years centres. In line with government initiatives, there is growing pressure within the early years sector to create staff who can lead different types of childcare and family settings in order to address two main government targets. Firstly, reducing poverty among families with small children and secondly, increasing educational opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds in order to give them a better start in life. Many say that for this to happen we need people who can lead an effective team of capable, professional colleagues. This is no easy task in the modern Early Years market. O'Sullivan acknowledges the problems and provides ideas and suggestions to address the issues facing leaders so that they are supported to lead us into a future where we can all help make a big difference for a long time.

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.