This session shares original findings from a PhD study exploring early years leadership in the PVI sector through narrative inquiry. Drawing on the lived experiences of leaders working across a variety of settings, the research challenges traditional, hierarchical models of leadership by centring the voices of those so often excluded from policy, research, and professional discourse.

The stories of leaders will be disseminated, revealing how they navigate structural inequalities, professional silencing, challenging roles with little external support and ethical tensions, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19. It invites attendees to reflect on whose voices are valued in our sector, how leadership is defined, and what it means to lead with care and relational integrity.

Designed for practitioners, managers, and policy influencers, this session offers both critical insight and reflection, encouraging a reimagining of leadership that is inclusive, ethical, and grounded in the realities of early years practice.