Professionalism and Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Care explores the tension between what early years practitioners are expected to achieve, and the level of expertise and understanding required to underpin this. It examines the impact of recent policies on the agency of individual practitioners, and the culture and ethos of their settings, and questions the driving factors behind reforms to curriculum and practice and where this locates practitioners and their provision.

Bringing together the latest research and ideas on professionalism and leadership, the book explores how professional status is understood and acquired and what makes this problematic in ECEC. It explores the impact of different leadership approaches, what needs to be challenged and sets out how the workforce might assert its own identity and values and continue to advocate for the needs of young children.

Including case studies to illustrate the lived experiences of individual practitioners as they worked towards becoming graduate professionals, this will be valuable reading for early years professionals engaged in undergraduate and postgraduate study and those researching policy development and professional identity within ECEC.

About the Author

Mary A. Dyer is Subject Leader for the Undergraduate Framework courses in the School of Education and Professional Development at the University of Huddersfield, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Early Childhood Studies. Research interests include ethical practice in early years, professional identity and critical reflection.

Samantha McMahon is Senior Lecturer and Director of Student Retention at the University of Huddersfield, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Early Childhood Studies. Research interests include professionalism and leadership in ECEC.

Book Information
ISBN 9780367415921
Author Mary A. Dyer
Format Paperback
Page Count 116
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 231g