Pedagogical Leadership in Early Childhood Education: Conversations From Across the World

Description

Pedagogical leadership views leadership as something separate from formal authority or qualifications, seeing educators' understanding, interpretation and passion as the key lever for continuous improvement in early childhood education (ECE). This book shows how effective pedagogical leadership can create the right conditions for quality ECE provision, to increase motivation and engagement among staff, and impact positively on staff recruitment and retention. Written by a team of international experts based in Australia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Greece, Finland, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the USA, this book explores pedagogical leadership in ECE in-depth and through an international lens. The chapters address questions including: what is pedagogic leadership?; what does it look like?; what impact can pedagogic leadership have on the everyday work of nurseries and other ECE providers? The contributors cover a range of topics including trauma-responsive pedagogy, child-initiated pedagogies, conflict management, change management theory and social leadership theory.

Mona Sakr is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood at Middlesex University, UK. She is co-editor, with Jayne Osgood, of Postdevelopmental Approaches to Childhood Art (Bloomsbury, 2019) and co-author, with Bindu Trivedy, Nichola Hall, Laura O'Brien and Roberto Federici, of Creativity and Making in Early Childhood (Bloomsbury, 2018). June O'Sullivan MBE is Chief Executive of the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), UK. She is the author of Leadership Skills in the Early Years (Bloomsbury, 2009) and Successful Leadership in the Early Years (Bloomsbury, 2015).

This important book offers real-world examples to illustrate the nuances of impactful pedagogical leadership. Chapter by chapter, it highlights how agile and responsive pedagogical leadership is essential to create optimal conditions for quality ECE provision, inspire and empower colleagues, and reflect the values and priorities of the wider community. An essential addition to a professional library. * Caroline Cohrssen, Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of New England, Armidale NSW, Australia * This book is essential reading for anyone working in Early Childhood Education. It challenges existing definitions and highlights the various pedagogical leadership roles within different settings. Early Childhood Education professionals will find practical ideas, examples of research and honest conversations offering valuable insights from experience to inform and grow future thinking, reflection and to develop professional practice. * Diana Bannister MBE, Professor, University of Wolverhampton, UK *