Exploring the Interplay of Leadership and Quality Improvement in Early Years Settings in England and Hong Kong

In this article, the authors report on their current work towards developing an international research project that will examine the leadership of quality provision in early years settings in England and Hong Kong. The main objective of the research is to explore the relationship between quality leadership and quality assurance as well as comparing and contrasting the different experiences of providers of early years care and education, thus beginning to draw some conclusions about the inter-relationship and inter-dependency of leadership and quality. This research will be of significant value to teacher educators and school leaders in their efforts to support the quality improvement agenda as well as helping to shape leadership education and training. It will also contribute to an understanding of the similarities and differences in the two systems and the interplay of different cultural contexts and dynamics in shaping early childhood education and care.