Relational Leadership in Early Childcare and Education
Unit outline
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Royal Roads acknowledges the campus is located on the traditional Lands of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
Relational Leadership
Welcome to the Relational Leadership in Early Childcare and Education course!
This openly accessible course site is part a set of open educational resources designed specifically for early childhood education (ECE) leaders and managers in British Columbia, Canada. The content, activities, and examples are grounded in the policies, frameworks, and practices relevant to this region. While we recognize that participants may access these open courses from anywhere in the world, it is important to note that the information presented reflects the BC context. We encourage participants from other regions to consult their local policies, governing bodies, guidelines, and regulations to ensure alignment with their specific practices and professional requirements.
“Education is the right of all, of all children, and as such is a responsibility of the community. Education is an opportunity for the growth and emancipation of the individual and the collective; it is a resource for gaining knowledge and for learning to live together; it is a meeting place where freedom, democracy and solidarity are practiced and where the value of peace is promoted. Within the plurality of cultural, ideological, political, and religious conceptions, education lives by listening, dialogue, and participation; it is based on mutual respect, valuing the diversity of identities, competencies, and knowledge held by each individual.” (Comune di Reggio Emilia, 2009, as cited in Moss, 2014).
This 32-hour course explores various models of leadership tailored for early childhood education (ECE) professionals and builds on practices, processes, and knowledges you have learned in your ECE program.
Using an Ethics of Care, B.C.'s Early Learning Framework (BCELF), and other various Relational Leadership models, participants will be guided to reflect on and create contextual leadership practices that support individuals as well as cultivate a culture of collectivity within the context of their early years’ setting. In addition, participants will engage in creating a commitment statement that informs their leadership and pedagogical approaches. This course emphasizes thinking and acting systemically, as well as critical reflective practices, empowering leaders to observe and respond holistically to children, colleagues, families, and wider communities.
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Childs, E., Elliot, E., Gedak, L., & Manion, K.(2025). Relational Leadership (OER). CC-BY 4.0
Course Developer Anonymous Contributor
Subject Matter Expert Enid Elliot
Instructional Designer Lisa Gedak
Project Leads Elizabeth Childs & Kathleen Manion
