Leading in Early Childhood

Geraldine Davis is a Principal Lecturer and Director of the Doctorate in Education at Anglia Ruskin University. She has worked in higher education for 14 years, following work as a teacher in schools, colleges and within the health sector. She led the Masters degree in Early Years Professional Practice between 2010 and 2015. Geraldine led a funded research project to explore the link between leadership in the early childhood workforce and outcomes for children from 2010 – 2013. She co-edited the third edition of ‘An Introduction to Early Childhood’ with Professor Tim Waller in 2014 and wrote the chapter ‘Leadership and Change Management in Early Childhood’.

Gemma Ryder is a Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at the University of East London. She started her career as a qualified Nursery Nurse and has worked in private and voluntary early childhood settings with the birth to five age group. She has worked closely with private and state schools and day nurseries as an Early Years Work Placement Coordinator at a college of further education and has acted as a trainer, assessor and mentor on the Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) and Early Years Initial Teacher Training programmes. Gemma is passionate about leadership and workforce development, which has been an integral part of her own research.