Leadership Contexts and Complexities in Early Childhood Education

Leadership will provoke and challenge you to think and question the way you look at and engage with leadership matters within your early childhood setting and beyond. It is an essential resource that will assist tertiary students and practitioners engaged in early childhood matters to critically understand and actively engage with the macro and micro contexts within which they may work as intentional leaders.

Based on the authors' professional development and research-based activities in a variety of locations, including metropolitan, rural and remote regions in Australia, the book draws on established professional networks to capture diverse images and experiences of early childhood leaders.

This book is in two parts. The first provides an orientation to the various contextual dimensions of early childhood leadership. These chapters are focused on 'big picture' issues that give shape to early childhood leadership, and include discussion of early childhood policy, legislative frameworks, quality standards, advocacy, governance and pedagogy. Part two deals with the application of leadership within early childhood settings. These chapters address perennial areas of importance including the development of sound relationships with families, engagement with community, and the creation of effective workplaces, as well as focus on other relatively new leadership dimensions: social entrepreneurialship, professional judgment and succession planning.

Manjula Waniganayake, Professor of Early Childhood, Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University,Sandra Cheeseman, Lecturer, Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University,Marianne Fenech, Senior Lecturer, Program Director, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney,Fay Hadley, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University,Wendy Shepherd, Director, Mia Mia, Macquarie University

Manjula Waniganayake is Professor of Early Childhood in the Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

Sandra Cheeseman is a Lecturer in social policy, management and leadership in the Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

Marianne Fenech is Marianne is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Early Childhood programs in the Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney

Fay Hadley is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Initial Teacher Education programs at Macquarie University in the Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

Wendy Shepherd is the director of Mia Mia in the Institute of Early Childhood, Macquarie University

PART 1: Contexts of Leadership
1. Conceptualising early childhood leadership
2. The Australian Policy Context
3. Leading for Quality
4. Leadership and Governance
5. Strategic Planning and Social Entrepreneurship
6. Pedagogical Leadership
7. Leading Intentionally through Advocacy and Activism
8. Leading Organisational Change
PART 2: Leadership in Context
9. Interpersonal and Workplace Communication
10. Creating a Community of Learners
11. Relationships with Families
12. Community Engagement
13. Money Matters
14. Places and Spaces for Adults for Thinking and Learning
15. Career Development and Succession Planning