LEADERSHIP IN A COMMUNITY BASED EARLY …

1 LEADERSHIP IN A COMMUNITY BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD care AND education SERVICE: governance AND PRACTICE Dissertation presented in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree for the Master of Arts in EARLY Childhood Studies, Queens University, Belfast By IRENE CAFFERKY EARLY Childhood education Department September 2013 Abstract EARLY Childhood care and education (ECCE) services are making a significant difference to the lives of children and families every day. This research recognises the complexity of the LEADERSHIP role using the experiences of leaders in the COMMUNITY not-for-profit ECCE sector to reflect on how LEADERSHIP is enacted.

2 The study reviews major theories and summarises findings from empirical research on LEADERSHIP . Major topics and discussions include LEADERSHIP versus managements, leader traits and skills, leader power and influence, importance of LEADERSHIP for organisational effectiveness and LEADERSHIP theories in relation to ECCE. The study investigated how a range of personnel including manager/leaders, voluntary management committee members and support agencies understood and enacted LEADERSHIP . Data was gathered from questionnaires, day in a life diaries and telephone interviews and offer an insight into the many facets of LEADERSHIP within the EARLY year s context.

3 The role of LEADERSHIP and management was reviewed, what motivates volunteers in the ECCE COMMUNITY sector and what supports were available to them in their LEADERSHIP role. The breadth of experience and expertise among leaders in ECCE was highlighted, while acknowledging the skills needed for the future workforce. The contribution of EARLY year s educators, parents and COMMUNITY activists as being a powerful force in promoting children s learning must be considered by policy makers so that strategies can be developed to further support their continuing professional development within a COMMUNITY BASED model. This study seeks to advance ECCE LEADERSHIP theory by giving a voice to those in LEADERSHIP roles in the COMMUNITY not-for-profit sector.

4 The study makes a number of recommendations including the promotion of a theoretical understanding of LEADERSHIP in the EARLY year s sector, the inclusion of LEADERSHIP responsibilities in ECCE job descriptions, continuing professional development in LEADERSHIP and the development of models which would work across ECCE services to share and develop future ECCE LEADERSHIP practices . Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge the assistance, guidance and support of the EARLY Childhood Studies team at Queens & Stranmillis University, Belfast throughout the duration of my studies for the MA in EARLY Childhood Studies. To my employer Roscommon County Childcare Committee, for their support and assistance.

5 To Carmel and Orla, for being wonderful travel and study companions. To my family and friends, thank you for your support and encouragement. Finally, I wish to sincerely thank all persons who participated and contributed to this research project in any way. I would like to dedicate this research to all children but in particular to my daughters, Lisa and Sinead and my son David who has taught me what true courage means. Autobiographical Statement Irene Cafferky is a native of County Roscommon in the Republic of Ireland and lives in County Mayo, Ireland. Irene has worked with and supported the COMMUNITY and voluntary sector for the past 20 years and the EARLY childhood care & education sector for the past 12 years.

6 She has a diploma in COMMUNITY Development and BA in Training & education from National University Ireland (NUIG) and a PCGE in EARLY Childhood Studies (Queens University, Belfast). Irene has a keen interest both professionally and academically in EARLY childhood care and education service delivery, professional pedagogical practice and developing and supporting LEADERSHIP models. Irene has also qualified in Human Resource Management and completed Accredited Mediation Training and is qualified to practice as a professional Mediator. As a qualified mediator she works in the area of Conflict and Dispute Resolution and can provide a service for effective conflict management and dispute resolution processes which may assist in the resolution of disputes that are amenable to mediation on a confidential basis.

7 Throughout her adult working life, Irene has supported COMMUNITY development at a local level and has developed a keen interest in LEADERSHIP enactment and styles. This thesis LEADERSHIP in a COMMUNITY BASED EARLY Childhood care & education Service: governance and Practice as part fulfillment of a Masters in EARLY Childhood care & education in Stranmillis University College, a college of Queens University, Belfast reflects her passion for supporting sound governance practices and developing LEADERSHIP within the ECCE sector. Contents Page Page no Title Dissertation declaration form Abstract Acknowledgments Autobiographical Statement Glossary of Terms and Acronyms Contents pages Chapter one: Introduction 1 Rationale Chapter two.

8 Literature Review Introduction 4 Theories of LEADERSHIP 4 Behavioural Theory 5 Situational Theory 6 Contingency Model 7 Transformational LEADERSHIP 7 Autocratic, Democratic and Laissez-fare 8 Functional LEADERSHIP 10 Shared LEADERSHIP 11 Distributed LEADERSHIP 13 System LEADERSHIP 14 LEADERSHIP and Management are they the same?

9 15 The Changing Landscape of ECCE in the Republic of Ireland 17 National Childcare Programmes 19 S olta (The National Quality Framework for ECCE) 20 Aistear 21 Role of LEADERSHIP and Professional Development 22 Motivation and COMMUNITY Participation in ECCE 24 Conclusion 26 Chapter three.

10 Methods Introduction 29 Design 30 Sample and Sampling 31 Sampling Questionnaire 31 Questionnaire Design 32 Pilot of Questionnaires 34 Questionnaire Data Collection Procedure 35 Vignettes 36 Telephone Interviews 37 Ethical Considerations 38 Conclusion 39 Chapter four.