Distributed Pedagogical Leadership and Quality in Early Childhood Education

Johanna Heıkka; Riikka Hirvonen; Evelyn Muteweri

doi:10.30828/real.1620071

Distributed Pedagogical Leadership and Quality in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

High-quality early childhood education (ECE) is widely regarded as an essential right, with leadership playing a vital role in its delivery. Effective pedagogical leadership significantly enriches children’s learning, development, and overall well-being by nurturing collaborative settings and promoting shared decision-making processes. Limited research exists on particular leadership approaches, such as distributed pedagogical leadership (DPL), that contribute to quality improvement, despite the commonly recognised significance of distributed leadership in enhancing ECE quality. Thus, our study aimed to explore the connection between DPL and ECE quality in Finland. A sample of 453 staff members from 35 ECE centres in six municipalities around Finland responded to online surveys in 2019. The participants rated the DPL and ECE quality in their ECE centres. The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that distributed pedagogical leadership responsibilities and power relations were related to structural quality, such as the physical environment and human resources, whereas shared vision, distributed power relations, and distributed enactment of pedagogical development contributed to effect and process quality, such as child well-being and pedagogical activities. Distributed responsibilities were also related to intangible resources, and distributed enactment of pedagogical development was related to collaborative ECE planning. The findings imply that municipalities should prioritise investing in the establishment of a shared vision and strategy and the distributed enactment of pedagogical development as part of implementing DPL. Furthermore, because power and authority distribution are essential for pedagogical quality and child well-being, it is crucial to explore approaches to empower and include staff in decision making.

Keywords

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Leadership in Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Johanna Heıkka ^*
0000-0002-0712-0801
Finland

Riikka Hirvonen
0000-0001-5348-4801
Finland

Evelyn Muteweri
0000-0003-0344-5585
South Africa

Publication Date

September 28, 2025

Submission Date

January 16, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 22, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 10 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1620071

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA79GR36TD

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Heıkka, J., Hirvonen, R., & Muteweri, E. (2025). Distributed Pedagogical Leadership and Quality in Early Childhood Education. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, 10(3), 723-769. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1620071

AMA

1.Heıkka J, Hirvonen R, Muteweri E. Distributed Pedagogical Leadership and Quality in Early Childhood Education. REAL. 2025;10(3):723-769. doi:10.30828/real.1620071

Chicago

Heıkka, Johanna, Riikka Hirvonen, and Evelyn Muteweri. 2025. “Distributed Pedagogical Leadership and Quality in Early Childhood Education”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 10 (3): 723-69. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1620071.

EndNote

Heıkka J, Hirvonen R, Muteweri E (September 1, 2025) Distributed Pedagogical Leadership and Quality in Early Childhood Education. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 10 3 723–769.

IEEE

[1]J. Heıkka, R. Hirvonen, and E. Muteweri, “Distributed Pedagogical Leadership and Quality in Early Childhood Education”, REAL, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 723–769, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.30828/real.1620071.

ISNAD

Heıkka, Johanna - Hirvonen, Riikka - Muteweri, Evelyn. “Distributed Pedagogical Leadership and Quality in Early Childhood Education”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 10/3 (September 1, 2025): 723-769. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1620071.

JAMA

1.Heıkka J, Hirvonen R, Muteweri E. Distributed Pedagogical Leadership and Quality in Early Childhood Education. REAL. 2025;10:723–769.

MLA

Heıkka, Johanna, et al. “Distributed Pedagogical Leadership and Quality in Early Childhood Education”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, vol. 10, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 723-69, doi:10.30828/real.1620071.

Vancouver

1.Johanna Heıkka, Riikka Hirvonen, Evelyn Muteweri. Distributed Pedagogical Leadership and Quality in Early Childhood Education. REAL. 2025 Sep. 1;10(3):723-69. doi:10.30828/real.1620071