Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) hosted a research seminar on 11 August 2026 featuring Professor Iram Siraj OBE from the University of Oxford. The seminar examined how effective educational leadership can improve children’s outcomes through its influence on staff motivation, teaching practices, and leadership capacity.

The seminar also introduced the validated Curriculum, Leadership Interaction Quality Rating Scales (CLIQRS) tools, developed over more than two decades, including the Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being (SSTEW) Scale and Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Extension (ECQRS-EC) Scale. Professor Siraj further presented findings from the Fostering Effective Early Learning (FEEL) study, a randomised controlled trial conducted in New South Wales involving 90 centres. The study showed substantial improvements in quality among intervention centres compared with control centres. Children demonstrated consistent developmental gains, while educators reported professional growth and increased use of sustained shared thinking, observing that children became more engaged and active problem-solvers.

The seminar provided YCCECE academics and students with valuable insights educational leadership in improving quality of teaching and learning, while also introducing practical tools for evaluating and enhancing professional practice.

For further reading, key studies referenced in the seminar can be found below:

• Day, C., Sammons, P., Hopkins, D., Leithwood, K., & Kington, A. (2008). Research into the impact of school leadership on pupil outcomes: policy and research contexts. School Leadership & Management, 28(1), 5–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632430701800045
• Siraj, I., Melhuish, E., Howard, S. J., Neilsen-Hewett, C., Kingston, D., de Rosnay, M., Duursma, E., Feng, X., & Luu, B. (2018). Fostering Effective Early Learning (FEEL) Study: Final Report. New South Wales Department of Education.
• Siraj-Blatchford, I., & Manni, L. (2007). Effective Leadership in the Early Years Sector (ELEYS) study. Institute of Education, University of London.
• Siraj-Blatchford, I., Sylva, K., Muttock, S., Gilden, R. and Bell, D. (2002) Researching Effective Pedagogy in the Early Years (REPEY). University of London, Institute of Education, Department of Educational Studies, Norwich.
• Sylva, K., Melhuish, E., Sammons, P., Siraj-Blatchford, I., & Taggart, B. (2004). Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) project. Institute of Education, University of London.
• Sylva, K., Melhuish, E., Sammons, P., Siraj-Blatchford, I., & Taggart, B. (2012). Effective Pre-school, Primary and Secondary Education 3-14 Project (EPPSE 3-14): Final Report from the Key Stage 3 Phase: Influences on Students' Development from age 11-14 (Research Report DFE-RR202). Department for Education.