Managing EYFS Leadership: Keeping people at the heart of your vision
In the world of education, stepping from teacher to leader can be challenging, whether you are now managing those you worked alongside, or if you are new to a setting. Moving from being a practitioner to leader means going from being inspired by a play-based curriculum to having to manage staffing and policies, all whilst wondering if you’re getting it right.
In this blog, Mrs G reflects on her experiences of EYFS Leadership and gives some tips about how to manage EYFS Leadership, whilst keeping the children at the heart of the journey.
Leading in the early years is a journey of learning, reflection, and heart. It’s about being grounded in purpose, staying curious, and holding onto what matters most: the children at the centre of it all.
So where to start?
Whenever I start at a new setting, or support anyone in one, the first thing I always complete is a full resource and skill audit. As a leader you need to know if the resources available to children are fit for purpose and create a an environment that promotes independence and curiosity. You also need to know what you need to put in place to improve the environment and plan what you need to source next.
I also audit the skills of the staff working in the department. This is done in a non-judgemental way and is explained to the staff in a way that shows them that you want to know what they are great at and what they would like to do to improve their practice (this can then support performance management.) Is there training that is needed sooner than later? Do you have a member of staff who is an expert in a field that could support and enhance children’s learning experience? Do you have any members of staff who aren’t on board with the way of working and need significant
support? Who can you, as a leader, lean on and use as a good role model to others?
Get to know the children
Spend time in the environment playing with the children. Once you get to know the children, data is always easier to discuss and manage. By spending
time getting to know children and their families better, allows you to plan sessions and activities that will support them and boost their learning experiences. By being present children know who you are and families will be more willing to engage with support that could be offered to them. It will help you in the long run to know what hardships families in your area face and will allow you to plan your curriculum to meet children’s needs from the
get go.
Curriculum
This is something that may develop over the course of the year, but is something that you want to get right. Meet with your team to discuss. What do you want your children to achieve by the time they leave EYFS? What steps will you put in place to make sure they are settled and Key Stage One ready? How will you plan for progression if your early years department consists of a nursery and a reception class? How will you plan for progression over the year if you are just a reception class? Will you need a rolling programmes or separate programmes for nursery and reception? When planning for the curriculum you want your children to receive a well rounded education, that gives them experiences that they may not be able to access at home.
Action planning
Whether you are in a setting that needs lots of support, or you are in a setting that is fairly stable, action planning is always helpful as a leader. When tarting at my current setting we needed to work on both the indoor and outdoor environments. This was quite overwhelming and being able to break things down into a three year action plan made things seem more realistic and manageable. Your action plan needs to be reasonable and you’ve got to remember that all actions do not need to be completed by yourself! You can delegate throughout your team and you may also need input from SLT. If you are going to need to buy new resources or put training in place, this will cost money. Is there a budget for this or do you need to raise some money? (We did a sponsored welly walk which raised over £500.) Try and update your action plan often and remember it is a working document. Things can change over time, but by having a clear guide to get you to your end goal will help you massively in the first instance.
Good leadership takes work and research and no one is going to get it right all the time. We are only human. But, by owning mistakes, taking accountability and communicating effectively with your team you are well on your way to creating a positive culture, where children are truly at the heart of everything.
MrsG has been teaching in Primary Schools, specialising in EYFS and KS1 for the last 13 years. She has taught across both key stages working as an Assistant Head, before heading back into the classroom full time after having her children. MrsG is now Senior Teacher in a small school, where she teaches in EYFS. She also works with ECTs supporting them with planning, workload, job applications and interview technique through her Instagram account instagram.com/mrsg_eyfs
If you’re an Early Years Leader looking for support then why not consider joining the Is it Time to Play? membership, it’s packed with resources, planning and guidance to support you in your role. Or consider joining the EYFS Leader’s Workshop: Action Planning for Impact with myself and Vicki Yadav from Primary Steps.