Improving Quality of Teaching and Child Development: A Randomised Controlled Trial of the Leadership for Learning Intervention in Preschools

Overview

Journal Front Psychol

Date 2023 Jan 23

PMID 36687934

Authors

Iram Siraj

Edward Melhuish

Steven J Howard

Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett

Denise Kingston

Marc De Rosnay

Runke Huang

Julian Gardiner

Betty Luu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Substantial research indicates that high quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) confers a wide range of benefits for children, yet quality in ECEC remains inconsistent. Given the variability in training and qualifications, one strategy for improving ECEC quality is in-service professional development (PD).

Methods: The current study evaluated an evidence-based in-service PD programme, Leadership for Learning, via a cluster randomised controlled trial involving 83 ECEC services and 1,346 children in their final year of pre-school.

Results: Results indicated significant improvements in teaching quality across treatment centres and child development outcomes in language, numeracy and social-emotional development.

Discussion: This study provides strong support for making evidence-informed PD routinely available for ECEC practitioners.

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