Leading change of practice: A study of challenges and possibilities from the position of preschool management

The study investigates the conditions necessary for kindergarten coordinators to support change through educational research focused on the development of practice. The study is based on a three-year action research project in a kindergarten with great linguistic diversity among children and parents. The research questions are:

1. What promotes and limits kindergarten coordinators’ opportunities to support change in practice?
2. What arrangements can be identified regarding these promoting and limiting factors?

The results show that administrative tasks and a system focused on accountability and performance are limiting factors for coordinators in their work to provide practice support. This can lead to management being more technically and administratively focused, leaving less room to prioritise change processes. Promoting factors include trust in employees and researchers, as well as alignment between the research and the leaders’ own objectives for the kindergarten. Reflective dialogues and communicative spaces can promote change. Reflective dialogues provide space to reflect on practice and develop common understanding, while communicative spaces facilitate the sharing of experience and development of practice.

The study used qualitative methods in an action research project with kindergarten management in a kindergarten in Malmo that had great linguistic diversity. The management consisted of a coordinator, an assistant coordinator and a kindergarten teacher with further education qualifications. The data collection took place through reflective dialogues between the researcher and management over the course of two years, as well as through observations of changes in employee practice. The interventions included new activities related to language development and children’s participation, as well as restructuring the outdoor area with the children’s involvement. The action research followed cycles of planning, action, observation and reflection.

Harju, A. (2023). Leading change of practice: A study of challenges and possibilities from the position of preschool management. Educational Action Research, 31(5), 881–893.

Online year: 2022

Issue year: 2023

Review year: 2022