Leading and Managing Early Childhood Settings
PostgraduateMAQ-ECHX8262019
Course information for 2019 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Build your capacity to lead and manage by exploring early childhood leadership theory. Investigate management structures, regulatory and legislative frameworks, and the ethical and professional roles and responsibilities required
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- -
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Leading and Managing Early Childhood Settings
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- Understand and critically engage with the ever changing socio-political and legal contexts within which early childhood settings operate
- Identify key differences between the managing and leading of an early childhood setting, and the range of management structures under which early childhood settings operate
- demonstrate a strong understanding of leadership theories
- demonstrate knowledge and skills that they, as future managers and leaders of early childhood settings require
- apply high order analytical and integrative thinking skills through critique of practice and theory to understand the complexities of early childhood management and leadership
- demonstrate a commitment to managing and leading ethically and professionally
- develop professional judgement and vision in relation to leading and managing early childhood settings
- reflect on their own knowledge and skill base and consider professional development priorities that will enable them to, as a future leader of an early childhood setting, play a critical role in that centre’s provision of quality early childhood education for young children.
- Introduction to the Unit
- The socio-political context of early childhood settings
- Leading for quality
- Theorising leadership & management in early childhood
- Leading and managing in different early childhood management structures
- Evaluation and strategic planning
- Business planning and financial management
- Policy development
- Communication and decision-making as early childhood leaders
- Building and leading staff
- Networking and working with other professionals
- Leading intentionally through advocacy and activism
- Professional growth and career planning
This subject was previously known as ECEX826 Leading and Managing Early Childhood Settings.
This subject aims to build students’ capacity to lead and manage quality early childhood education settings. The subject critically examines the social, political and legal contexts within which early childhood education settings in Australia operate, and explores early childhood leadership theory. Students will investigate diverse management structures, regulatory and legislative frameworks, and the ethical and professional roles and responsibilities of early childhood teachers as leaders and managers.
- Leadership in action (50%)
- Analysis of a leader's roles (30%)
- Reflective journal (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
Explore Macquarie courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 11
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 10
Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
one of
- MAQ-ECHX603-Early Childhood Professional Practice 1
MAQ-ECEX603 (Not currently available)
and one of
- MAQ-ECHX600-Early Childhood Philosophy and Pedagogy
MAQ-ECEX600 (Not currently available)
and one of
- MAQ-ECHX820-Families in Context
MAQ-ECEX820 (Not currently available)
and one of
- MAQ-ECHX601-Health and Well-being in Early Childhood
MAQ-ECEX601 (Not currently available)
and one of
- MAQ-ECHX824-Early Childhood Development Research and Practice
MAQ-ECEX824 (Not currently available)
and one of
- MAQ-ECHX823-Language and Literacy in Early Childhood
MAQ-ECEX823 (Not currently available)
and one of
- MAQ-ECHX602-Early Childhood Development
MAQ-ECEX602 (Not currently available)
and one of
- MAQ-ECHX827-Learning Through Mathematics, Science and Technology in Early Childhood Settings
MAQ-ECEX827 (Not currently available)
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
MAQ-ECEX826 (Not currently available)
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.