Learning to Lead in Early Childhood Education : New Methodologies for Research and Practice

This cross-cultural volume makes a major new contribution to the educational leadership literature. Written for practitioners and academics, it presents three international case studies to illustrate the political nature of leadership practice and the potential of contrasting theoretical approaches for leadership research and development.

Learning to Lead in Early Childhood Education makes a major new contribution to the educational leadership literature in early childhood education. Three sharply contrasting theoretical and methodological approaches are explained, each with an accompanying case study as a separate chapter. This allows readers to clearly see the relationship between theory, research, and practice, including theory-driven approaches to analysis. By drawing the case studies from three countries – Australia, Norway, and Aotearoa New Zealand, including one involving Indigenous participants – this book allows readers to learn about early childhood leadership policy and cultures in settings with different languages, histories, and national contexts. It will appeal to early childhood centre leaders, early childhood education and leadership academics, and post-graduate students in educational leadership interested in the potential of – and for – multiple approaches to leadership research and learning in early childhood education.