1st Edition
The Pedagogical Leadership in the Early Years (PLEY) Quality Rating Scale Supporting Leadership for Learning in Centres and Classrooms
Key contextual issues for the development of leadership and pedagogical leadership in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector
Introduction to the development of the Pedagogical Leadership in the Early Years (PLEY) Quality Rating Scale
Rationale for the development of the PLEY Scale
The structure of the PLEY Scale: principles and pedagogical leadership
Preparing to use the PLEY Scale and scoring. Important guidance before you start
The PLEY Scale – sub-scales
· Self-reflective leadership
· Leading others and managing change
· Intentional and relational learning and pedagogy
· Curriculum and Continuous Improvement
· Diverse partnerships and contextual literacy
Biography
Iram Siraj is Professor of Child Development and Education at the University of Oxford and Research Professor at the University of Maynooth, Ireland. She is the co-author of each of the Curriculum, Leadership and Interaction Quality Rating Scales (CLIQRS) and has led several RCTs on effective professional learning. She has previously published The Movement Environment Rating Scale (MOVERS) (2024, Routledge), The Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being (SSTEW) Scale (2024, Routledge), Early Childhood Matters (2010, Routledge), Doing Early Childhood Research (2010, Routledge) and Early Childhood Quality Rating Scale – Emergent Curriculum (ECQRS–EC) (2025, Routledge).
Denise Kingston is senior researcher at Oxford University and an honorary research fellow at the University of Sussex. She is a specialist in children’s development, with a background in educational psychology. Her research focus is on effective professional development and EC pedagogy and practice. She has previously published The Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being (SSTEW) Scale (2024, Routledge) and Early Childhood Quality Rating Scale – Emergent Curriculum (ECQRS–EC) (2025, Routledge).
The quality of leadership in Early Childhood and Care (ECEC) settings has a direct impact on the quality of experience and outcomes for children. The Pedagogical Leadership in the Early Years (PLEY) Quality Rating Scale is a valuable and much needed tool that helps leaders of ECEC services to evaluate their leadership impact and identify ways in which they can improve their leadership approach. Evidence based and designed specifically for the ECEC context; leaders will welcome this carefully crafted self-evaluation scale.
- Sonia Sharp, Partner at Ernst & Young, a global lead on Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC).
With a holistic approach, this outstanding and much awaited quality rating scale, Pedagogical Leadership in the Early Years (PLEY), deep dives into the complex challenges faced by leadership within ECEC. Through reflection and self-evaluation PLEY supports staff in how to improve and enhance workforce professionalism and create high quality contexts for learning outcomes for both staff and children.
- Sonja Sheridan, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
