1. ED6016: Leading and Managing Partnerships in the Early Years
Task 2 Guidance
Version 2

2. Case Study (3000 words)
This assignment is weighted at 60% of your overall grade for this module.
There are 2 components to this assignment. 
An interview with an early childhood setting manager*
A written case study (3000 words)
In relation to the total word count, you are permitted to go 10% over / under 3000 words. This would equate to 3300 (10% over) or 2700 (10% under) in total.
*Please note that you will need to attach the notes OR a transcription from your interview as an appendix. These may be hand written or typed. This will not be included in your word count, but will act as evidence of your research. 

3. 1. An interview with an early childhood setting manager
For this assignment, the following settings may be used:
Private / Independent nurseries
Childminders
Children's Centres
Pre-Schools / Playgroups
After-school / Breakfast clubs [if there is a named manager in charge]
Remember: Services must cater for children between the age of 0 – 8 years
You must ensure that the person you interview works in a managerial position, i.e. Manager, Proprietor / Owner, Centre Manager,
Head of Early Years etc. Childminders will be self-employed and
will therefore be responsible for managing their own practice.

4. 1. Arranging Your Interview
You are welcome to visit the setting by yourself, in pairs or small groups (no more than 4)
Please ensure that this is negotiated with the manager first- please do not turn up with more people on the day unless this has been agreed prior to the interview.
There are 2 forms that need to be taken with you:
- Letter to the Manager
- Ethics form (please ensure the manager signs and dates
this as proof of your visit)
Please ensure you write your DBS number on the ethics form and take your Student ID Card when visiting the setting.
The Ethics form will need to go in as an Appendix

5. Ethics Form (Interview)
Please note: This will not be as long as your dissertation ethics:
Number of Participants = How many managers
Nature of Participants = Their job title, e.g. Manager, Owner,
Childminder, Head of Pedagogy etc.
Aim of the Interview = Brief overview of the assignment
Outline of Methods = How will you record the interview?
Risks = What potential risks would there be?
Precautions = What will you do to minimise these risks?
Consent = This can be via phone / / face-to-face invitation. You will also need to mention the Letter to the Manager.
What will participants be told? = Consider what questions you will ask (see Moodle book regarding interview questions)

6. Interview Questions - Context
Your interview should begin with some general questions relating to the background of the setting, as this will allow you to set the scene in the introduction of your assignment. 
You will need to write a few questions relating to the following areas:
 General setting information, e.g. privately owned, rural / urban location, approximate number of children and staff.
The manager's official job title, qualifications and experience.
How long the manager has been in their current role.
Why is this important?
It provides your reader with a context of the environment the manager works in. This information could be important when it is taken into account with answers to the other questions.

7. Interview Questions - Focus
You will need to select 3 – 4 focus areas from the list below. These all relate to content on this module (Most are themes for Term 2)
-       Safeguarding / Child Protection
-       The Early Childhood Curriculum*
-       Teamwork / Leading a Team
-       Leading Change / Change Agency
-       Multi-agency Partnerships
-       Working with Families
-       Recruitment and Retention of Staff
-       Policies, Procedures and Inspection processes that
Influence Management

8. Interview Questions – Focus
I / We have chosen our 3 – 4 focus areas, so what do we do with them?
As with the context questions, you will need to write a set of questions to get information about each of the focus areas. This will support you with finding theory and literature relating to the issues that arise and providing you with material / examples of practice that you can critique.
What policies and procedures does the manager have in place (relating to each of your focus areas)?
What challenges or issues does each focus area present to the manager and / or setting  / provision?
What impact do these challenges or issues have on leadership and management? (You may wish to ask the manager for an example)
What strategies or actions does / has the manager used to address these challenges or issues?

9. Interview Questions – Other Information
There is no set time limit for the interview, as much depends on how the amount of information that the manager is willing to share with you. Do ensure that you are gaining information about leadership and management as well as policy and provision, so you may need to develop some prompts or shorter questions to ensure you get the information you need.
   
Important: If you find that your manager is unwilling to answer specific questions relating to a focus area, you are welcome to choose an alternate focus area during the interview.   
If you go as a group / pair and have split the interview questions between yourselves, please ensure that you all have copies of the complete interview. This may mean a higher similarity report when you attach the notes from the interview, but please do not worry about this.
This task is written independently, so please ensure you submit your own original work.

10. Interview Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why do we only choose 3 – 4 focus areas?
- There is so much content that could be discussed that covering all the themes on the module, could lead to the Case Study becoming descriptive and not allowing students the opportunity to critique in depth.
Do I have to write the questions myself?
-Yes, because everybody will have a different way of asking questions and this will also support you in Term 2 when we look at Human Resources Management.
How will we do the interview if we visit as a small group?
- This will be for you to decide with your colleagues, you may each want to ask a set of questions, i.e. one person asks questions relating to the context, the others each choose one of the 3-4 focus areas.
Help! I don’t have a manager!
- Use your networking skills to see if someone else in your seminar group / On the module have a setting they can recommend / put you in touch with.

11. A written case study (3000 words)
With the information gathered from the interview, you will be able to develop a case study that explores:
The key issues
Challenges
Strategies
Which relate to your chosen interview questions / focus areas.
You must ensure that you are referring to your interview and providing examples from the answers provided by the manager as a means of comparing and contrasting against existing literature on similar themes / topics of discussion.
Students who write a critique but do not refer to the interview or examples of practice that the manager provides will not pass the assignment.
You must ensure that you use a broad range of books, journal articles, reports etc to support your critique. Please ensure you use credible websites and media. Marks may be deducted if there is a limited range of resources or minimal evidence of reading and research.

12. Submitting Task 2 Your assignment will be submitted via Turnitin.
Please ensure you attach your Critical Reflection (self-report) sheet
You will need to include the following documents as Appendices:
- The completed Ethics form (which must be signed)
- Notes or transcription of the interview

13. The Turnitin Link for Task 2 will go You are welcome to submit your work before the deadline: