Making a difference to the lives of young children
Find out what some of the New Leaders are doing and the impact they are having now
Find out more how the programme engaged with the early years sector
Find out more how students on the programme shared their resrearch
New Leaders in Early Years - The Legacy
In 2010, Canterbury Christ Church University’s Department of Childhood Studies successfully bid to run the national pilot New Leaders in Early Years (NLEY) programme. The programme was developed to address the need to professionalise the early years workforce and provide graduate leadership for EYPS.
The programme aimed to attract graduates from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds and to:
- Recruit, train and retain able graduates in the Early Years sector who have the capacity to become outstanding leaders
- Enhance the status of Early Years work, so that the best graduates recognise and respond to this career opportunity
Over the two year programme participants undertook an MA in Early Years, gained Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) as well as management and leadership experience.
The first cohort of New Leaders in Early Years graduated on 3rd May 2013.
The second cohort graduated on 31st January 2014.
The programme is now closed to new applicants but lessons learnt have influenced the development of the new Early Years Initial Teacher Training (ITT).
"New Leaders in Early Years (NLEY) is a fantastic new programme designed to encourage the very best graduates to sign up to be leaders in the Early Years sector.
New Leaders in Early Years will help to raise the profile and status of those working with young children - which is crucial to giving every child the opportunity and confidence to grow and achieve in life. I hope that talented and committed men and women will sign up to be a part of this exciting new opportunity."
Sarah Teather MP - Minister of State for Children and Families (March 2011)
New Leaders in Practice
Find out what some of the New Leaders are doing and the impact they are having now
