This book examines leadership and governance in early childhood education and care (ECEC) for children aged 1-5. It highlights ECEC's role in early intervention, lifelong learning, eliminating child poverty, and fostering social inclusion in diverse populations.

Foreword; Jillian Rodd.
Part I. Introduction and Perspectives.
Introduction to the Book; Kjell-Åge Gotvassli and Yngve Skjæveland.
Chapter 1. Children's Learning in Early Childhood Centers (ECCs); Ole Fredrik Lillemyr.
Part II. Governance.
Chapter 2. Governing Children's Learning Processes Between Public Responsibility and Private Initiative - a Theoretical Perspective; Kjetil Børhaug.
Chapter 3. Governing Children's Learning in Private Early Childhood Centers; Kjetil Børhaug.
Chapter 4. Interpretation and Implementation of the National Curriculum: Leadership of Learning in Norwegian Early Childhood Centers; Yngve Skjæveland.
Chapter 5. Norwegian Early Childhood Teachers' Control over Children's Learning; Kjetil Børhaug.
Part III. Leadership.
Chapter 6. Leadership in Early Childhood Centers; Kjell-Åge Gotvassli.
Chapter 7. Promoting Staff and Children's Learning: Two Sides of the Same Coin?; Kari Håås Moen.
Chapter 8. Stakeholder Expectations and Leadership for Children's Learning; Kari Håås Moen.
Chapter 9. Disagreement About View on Learning; Kari Håås Moen and Kjell-Åge Gotvassli.
Chapter 10. Quality Reform in the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector in Norway; Berit Irene Vannebo and Kjell-Åge Gotvassli.
Chapter 11. Strategic Leadership in the Early Childhood Center as a Learning Arena; Per Tore Granrusten.
Chapter 12. The Dynamics of Pedagogical Leaders' Everyday Leadership; Marit Bøe and Karin Hognestad.
Chapter 13. The Development of the Early Childhood Center as a Learning Organization: The Function of Pedagogic Leadership; Kjell-Åge Gotvassli.
About the Authors.