Leading Early Years: In a Time of Change (Advice from the Frontline of Education)

Leading Early Years in a Time of Change

A Thursday morning in a toddler room. Sixteen children, two adults, plenty of activity. In the corner, a girl is holding an animated, two-voice phone call with the mother who isn't there - building syntax, switching speaker roles, constructing a small narrative. The most important cognitive work happening in the room that morning. No adult goes near her.

That moment is where this book starts.

Leading Early Years in a Time of Change is a leader's account of the early years sector in England as it absorbs four reforms at once: the September 2025 EYFS framework, the expansion of funded entitlement to children from nine months, a workforce crisis that has not eased in five years, and a real-terms funding squeeze. Laura Masson has led across the sector - through Ofsted categories from special measures to good - and writes about what the role actually asks of you, in plain English, without the jargon.

Chapters on the daily job (occupancy, ratios, the things you cannot delegate); pedagogy without the buzzwords; safeguarding culture, not just compliance; inclusion under pressure; parent communications that hold trust through the difficult weeks; and - perhaps most necessary of all - how to lead this work without it burning you out.

For the new manager drinking from a fire hose. For the experienced leader wondering whether they have it in them to lead through another reform cycle. For the head, principal or trust executive whose responsibility includes early years but whose training did not.

Shorter than most books on early years leadership, because most books on early years leadership are too long. Stories, mistakes, and a path through them. No test at the end.

Laura Masson has spent twenty-two years in British education as a music teacher, class teacher, deputy, headteacher across several local authorities, Director of Education for a multi-academy trust, and Principal of a five-school early years group in London. She has led primary schools from special measures to good. She holds an MSc in Educational Management and Leadership, is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and a Chartered Manager, and speaks at ResearchED and other education conferences. She writes at lauramasson.co.uk.