Early Years Professionals are graduate leaders working with children below 5 years of age, their families and practitioners in early years settings in the private, voluntary and independent sectors and children’s centres in England. Their leadership of practice role is central to raising the quality of early years provision and practice. In this qualitative research study, the leadership role of the Early Years Professional is explored. The biographical and reflective methodology enabled them to reflect upon their role and deconstruct their leadership style and practices. The study found that Early Years Professionals had a defined role as Leaders of Learning, a specialist group within the early years workforce. Their experience of working in settings, continuing professional learning in higher education, reflective practice, emotional passion and enthusiasm for working with young children enabled them to lead change in pedagogy and shape and improve professional practice through a collaborative leadership style.
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