Author(s)

Yinfei Wang ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK

Corresponding Author

Yinfei Wang

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the influence of leadership paradigms on early childhood education (ECE), emphasizing how effective leadership enhances pedagogical outcomes and molds educational practices. Employing a comprehensive literature review as its primary research methodology, this study examines the concept of distributed leadership, which has attracted substantial scholarly attention for its potential to improve educational quality. Despite its prominence, the detailed dynamics, and wider implications of these leadership styles within ECE settings remain inadequately explored. This essay conducts a critical analysis of effective leadership, emphasizing the significance of pedagogical leadership. This leadership style, based on the foundational ethics of care in ECE, is critically examined alongside distributed leadership models. The paper also examines socio-cultural challenges influencing leadership practices, with particular focus on the constraints imposed by global standards and neoliberal policies. By including the viewpoints of educators, the analysis underscores their crucial role and the challenges they encounter within the frameworks of distributed and pedagogical leadership. The findings aim to elucidate the dynamics of leadership in ECE and suggest practical strategies for fostering leadership that enhances educational outcomes.

KEYWORDS

Distributed leadership, pedagogical leadership, leadership practices

CITE THIS PAPER

Yinfei Wang, Exploring Effective Leadership in Early Childhood Education. Advances in Educational Technology and Psychology (2024) Vol. 8: 15-22. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/aetp.2024.080603.

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