ED2FCW-Leadership in the Children's Workforce

Module Provider: Institute of Education
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Ms Pamela Cottrell
Email: pamela.cottrell@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module looks beyond the role of the practitioner, to examine the role of leadership in early years/educational settings (0-11 years). Some of the students may already hold leadership positions in the workplace, and for others, attaining this qualification may open up leadership opportunities.

The module will explore the principles and practices of effective leadership and how skills might be acquired and implemented within the workplace. Students will consider the importance of professional development and lifelong learning.

Aims:

The aims of this module are to develop knowledge and understanding of leadership in early years/educational settings (0-11 years) through:

• Identification and evaluation of the skills and qualities associated with effective leadership


• Identification of strategies to develop those leadership skills and qualities


• Analysis of the range of professional roles and perspectives within the Children’s Workforce


• Reflection upon and evaluation of one’s own role in terms of professional practice and leadership

Assessable learning outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

• analyse and apply principles of effective professional practice in early years/ educational settings (0-11 years).


• explore and discuss a range of professional issues impacting on practice


• understand the importance of ongoing professional development


• analyse the principles of effective leadership within the context of the early years/education sectors


• understand and incorporate connections between module, practice and relevant areas of the appropriate curriculum/framework


• develop and apply knowledge required for practitioners which are linked to the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children’s Workforce

Additional outcomes:

On successful completion students should also be able to:

• reflect upon and adapt practice in the light of current research


• demonstrate awareness of ethical issues in relation to leadership in the Children’s Workforce and be able to discuss in relation to personal beliefs and values

Outline content:

• Principles of effective professional practice


• Importance of appraisal, review and ethical practice


• Professionalism – definitions, discussions and critical analysis


• Contemporary issues impacting the early years/education practitioner


• Role of professionals in the Children’s Workforce


• Advocacy for children, families and early years/education sector


• Ongoing professional development – CPD and the self-evaluation processes 


• Principles of effective leadership


• Strategies for effective leadership

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
This module will be offered in a blended learning format, with a balance of face to face teaching, independent research and online contributions and discussion.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		12	12
Seminars		1	1
Tutorials		1	2
Placement		51	50
Guided independent study:		40	30
Total hours by term		105	95
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	70
Portfolio	20
Practical skills assessment	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:
n/a

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

2,500 word essay (70%) Group contribution to wiki on VLE (20%) Mentor-student professional discussion (10%)

Formative assessment methods:
Work-based discussions with the mentor, plus tutorials and placement experience all contribute to formative assessment.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:
Resubmission during the summer resit period if candidate would otherwise fail to graduate. Wiki can be assessed by alternative assessment method with submission during the summer resit period

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: The essential text books for this module are below. These texts are available in the library or within online resources or you may be able to source them more cheaply than the publisher’s recommended price Blandford, S., &Knowles, C. (2009). Developing professional practice 0-7. Harlow: Pearson Education. Approx £29 Goleman, D. (2000). Leadership that gets results. Retrieved from http://www.exeter.ac.uk/media/universityofexeter/careersandemployability/pdfs/resources/leadership Sharp, C., Lord, P., Handscomb, G., Macleod, S., Southcott, C., George, N., &Jeffes, J. (2012). Highly effective leadership in Children’s Centres. Nottingham: National College for School Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/ELCC01/ELCC01_home.cfm

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 1 August 2023