Pedagogical Leadership in the Early Years (PLEY) Quality Rating Scale

Iram Siraj is Professor of Child Development and Education at the University of Oxford and Research Professor at the University of Maynooth, Ireland. She is the co-author of each of the Curriculum, Leadership and Interaction Quality Rating Scales (CLIQRS) and has led several RCTs on effective professional learning. She has previously published The Movement Environment Rating Scale (MOVERS) (2024, Routledge), The Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being (SSTEW) Scale (2024, Routledge), Early Childhood Matters (2010, Routledge), Doing Early Childhood Research (2010, Routledge) and Early Childhood Quality Rating Scale – Emergent Curriculum (ECQRS–EC) (2025, Routledge).Denise Kingston is senior researcher at Oxford University and an honorary research fellow at the University of Sussex. She is a specialist in children’s development, with a background in educational psychology. Her research focus is on effective professional development and EC pedagogy and practice. She has previously published The Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being (SSTEW) Scale (2024, Routledge) and Early Childhood Quality Rating Scale – Emergent Curriculum (ECQRS–EC) (2025, Routledge).

• Key contextual issues for the development of leadership and pedagogical leadership in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sectorIntroduction to the development of the Pedagogical Leadership in the Early Years (PLEY) Quality Rating ScaleRationale for the development of the PLEY ScaleThe structure of the PLEY Scale: principles and pedagogical leadershipPreparing to use the PLEY Scale and scoring. Important guidance before you startThe PLEY Scale – sub-scales· Self-reflective leadership· Leading others and managing change· Intentional and relational learning and pedagogy· Curriculum and Continuous Improvement· Diverse partnerships and contextual literacy