Chapter 1: The centrality of play in early childhood
Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Nancy Stewart Kierna Corr Julia Henderson Chapter overview Play is a fundamental in childhood, and enshrined as
This chapter draws on international research to indicate how ECE leadership is influenced by national policy frameworks and enacted according to local contexts. Following a brief overview of international research on ECE leadership we focus specifically on the policy context in England exploring the concept of responsibilisation in the work of Graduate Leaders. Case study material throughout demonstrates the context-specific ways in which leadership is enacted by one teacher, a Graduate Leader of the EYFS in a London Primary School, leading of a diverse team of practitioners. Finally, we propose an agenda for the future development of leadership in ECE, offering a contrasting understanding of leadership to underpin practice change. We highlight the moral and relational agency of leaders and their role in raising quality in ways that are sustainable and ethical, specifically in addressing social justice.
The following readings are freely available online.
Done, E.J. and Murphy, M. (2018) The responsibilisation of teachers: A neoliberal solu- tion to the problem of inclusion. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 39(1), 142–155.
Kay, L., Wood, E., Nuttall, J. and Henderson, L. (2021) Problematising policies for workforce reform in early childhood education: A rhetorical analysis of England’s Early Years Teacher Status. Journal of Education Policy, 36(2), 179–195.
Martin, J., Nuttall, J., Henderson, L. and Wood, E. (2020) Educational leaders and the project of professionalisation in early childhood education in Australia. International Journal of Educational Research, 101: 101559.
Nuttall, J., Henderson, L., Wood, E. & Trippestad, T. A., (2022) Policy rhetorics and responsibilization in the formation of early childhood Educational Leaders in Australia. In: Journal of Education Policy. 37, 1, p. 17-38 22 p.
Henderson, L., Nuttall, J., Wood, E. & Martin, J. (2022). The potential of ‘leading identity’ as an analytic concept for understanding Educational Leadership development in early childhood education. (Accepted/In press) In: Teachers and teaching: theory and practice.15 p.
Kay, L., Wood, E., Nuttall, J. & Henderson, L. (2021). Problematising policies for workforce reform in early childhood education: a rhetorical analysis of England’s Early Years Teacher Status In: Journal of Education Policy. 36, 2, p. 179-195 17p.
Nuttall, J., Martin, J., Henderson, L., Wood, E. and Kay, L. (2018–2022) Learning-rich leadership for quality improvement in early childhood education. Australian Research Council Discovery Project No. 180100281.
Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Nancy Stewart Kierna Corr Julia Henderson Chapter overview Play is a fundamental in childhood, and enshrined as
Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Verity Campbell- Barr Sasha Tregenza May Chapter overview In this chapter, we explore and analyse developments in
Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Sue Allingham Nicola Brinning Chapter overview This chapter is built around the policy contexts of Wales and
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Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Aline-Wendy Dunlop Lisa Barnes Myra McRobbie Chapter overview In this chapter we have chosen a transitions lens
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Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Stella Louis Sally Cave Nasma Meah Chapter overview This chapter outlines what anti-discriminatory practice is and the
Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Shaddai Tembo Fifi Benham Chapter overview This chapter examines the role of gender and LGBTQ+ inclusive practice
Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Kathy Sylva Lesley Curtis Chapter overview This chapter explores the role of Children’s Centres (CCs) in serving
Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Nathan Archer David Yates Chapter overview When considering the future, looking back at recent changes in the
Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Cathy Nutbrown Beatrice Merrick Chapter overview This chapter is a little different from the others. It considers
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