Leadership: Contexts and Complexities in Early Childhood Education (2nd Edition)

Part of the series Oxford University Press - Teacher Education.

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Leadership: Contexts and Complexities in Early Childhood Education will provoke and challenge you to think and question the way you look at and engage in 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.

New to this Edition: 

• The text has been fully revised, including two new chapters:

Chapter 8 Leading Organisational Change

Chapter 14 Places and Spaces for Adults for Thinking and Learning

• New content emphasising the importance of professional communication and strategic planning.
• “Pause-Act-Reflect” questions which reinforce the need for “mindful leadership”.
• “Leaders in Practice” profiles have been revised and updated. These profiles reflect diversity across gender, culture, age and expertise of those working in a range of early childhood contexts located in different states and territories in Australia. Their perceptions, ideas and recommendations are grounded in first-hand experiences and authentically foster meaningful engagement in leadership matters. These are connected to the videos resources available in Oxford Ascend.