Early childhood (EC) environments that are safe and engaging can positively influence developmental outcomes in children. Indeed, the benefits of a high-quality environment for young children are numerous (Kostelnik et al., 2019). The EC classroom is also the primary workplace of EC teachers and much like the children they serve, they can also…

This study identifies different factors that contribute to Bahraini pre-service teachers' interest to specialize in early primary education. The sample of study comprised 108 year one and 49 foundation students enrolled in Bahrain Teachers College at the University of Bahrain. A stratified random sampling technique was used to insure the…

The importance of leadership for key educational outcomes is well documented, yet leaders' working conditions and well-being have received considerably less attention, particularly in the early care and education (ECE) sector. Job-Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory was used to develop a holistic conceptualization of leader well-being for the purpose…

The present study focused on the differential effects of two German PD programs in the ECEC field. We examined whether PD programs are equally effective for all ECEC professionals or whether ECEC professionals benefit differently from these learning opportunities. An experimental pre-post-follow-up study was conducted in the field with random…

The well-being of the early childhood education (ECE) workforce is of great importance to the field, yet existing measures to capture well-being are varied in conceptual and contextual constructs. There is a need to measure well-being among ECE employees holistically and to be able to compare to other industries. The National Institute for…

This study investigates the burnout and coping in the work experience of educators-caregivers (ECs) employed in early childhood day-care centers in Israel, given that the interaction between ECs and children is a decisive factor in the quality of care for children. The study included 40 participants and used qualitative-phenomenological and…

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a basic right for all children and a foundation for lifelong learning. It plays a critical role in reducing inequalities and enhancing women's participation in the workforce. This third edition of Key data on early childhood education and care in Europe aims to help build accessible, inclusive and…

There has been a marked increase in attention to educators' well-being since the pandemic. The majority of this research activity, however, has been focused on the well-being of early childhood teachers while the challenges of early childhood leaders have gone largely undocumented. Using a holistic conceptualization of leader well-being along with…

Attracting and recruiting qualified, high-quality teachers is a global challenge. In Finland, the recruitment of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) teachers has been particularly problematic, especially in the Helsinki metropolitan area. This paper investigates the incentives used in job advertisements to attract ECEC teachers in Finland…

Team-based leadership is increasingly recognized as valid for raising workplace quality. Developing effective teams of leaders, though, is barely understood, scantly researched and not simple or straightforward. Mentoring has been recognized as valuable within teams and with the support of critical reflection can assist in augmenting team-based…

This study examined how early childhood leaders working simultaneously as kindergarten teachers perceive the professional learning communities they lead -- explicitly identifying the factors that promote or hinder the communities' development from the leader's point of view. A qualitative-phenomenological approach was applied using semi-structured…

In recent times, the role of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), as a public service within Irish society has been illuminated. In the twenty-first century, although crises may unfold on a global scale, the response from society is galvanised at local level. Amongst other functions, ECEC is ideally positioned to form part of a local…

The last decade has revealed a global (re)configuring of the relationships between the state, society and educational settings in the direction of systems of performance management. In this article, the authors conduct a critical feminist inquiry into this changing relationship in relation to the professionalisation of early childhood education…

Understanding the best ways to support the well-being of the child care and early education (CCEE) workforce is important for states and CCEE programs. CCEE teachers and caregivers have demanding jobs and receive low compensation for their work--a combination that often negatively affects their well-being. Research has linked CCEE workforce…

The divided nature of the ECEC workforce is widely acknowledged. While scholarship has focused primarily on the consequences of the education-care divide, few studies have examined the workforce's fragmentation from a subnational perspective, particularly in the Global South. This article explores multiple fragmentations in the workforce, drawing…