Early years education and care are central to government policy on social exclusion and enhancing educational outcomes. The Early Excellence and Sure Start Initiatives are major national programmes which are driving the development of both centre based work and other early years interventions within small communities. Managing different styles of education and care in a single institution, presents a complex challenge to early years educators, whether the setting is a `one stop shop" or within a community-based programme where education and care are provided on an extended day,or year round basis. Early years education and care requires a distinctive and specialist model of leadership which builds on a deep un