Building effective teams

HomeEarly childhood education resourcesBuilding effective teams
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Building effective teams

HomeEarly childhood education resourcesBuilding effective teams

Topic summary

Teams in early childhood settings work together to promote the learning and wellbeing of children as well as their own professional knowledge and understanding.

In the context of early childhood education a team can be broadly defined as a group of people working together to advance their professional knowledge and skills in order to achieve an agreed-upon set of goals. This group may include teachers as well as professionals from outside agencies in an early childhood setting. The New Zealand early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki, also envisages early childhood teachers working in teams with parents and communities to support children as competent and confident learners.

Teamwork in early childhood settings is vital as it involves everyone contributing to achieving the overall mission of their community. Effective teamwork is essential for the development of professional knowledge and skills through engagement with research and professional learning and the collaborative sharing and questioning of practice. Its emphasis on open, trusting relationships supports wellbeing among teachers, children and the wider early childhood community.

The evidence on the importance of relationships in teaching and learning is unequivocal. There is a wealth of evidence on the importance of teamwork in school settings, although the body of research examining teams and teamwork in early childhood settings is less comprehensive. Early childhood education education researchers have suggested that the characteristics of effective teams identified by research in school settings are also applicable to the early childhood sector. These characteristics include collective learning, mutual responsibility, trusting relationships, shared and supportive leadership and having a shared vision and values.

Effective teams are built on respectful relationships. This requires everyone in the team to listen to others, appreciate divergent ideas and value others’ input. It is also important that everyone feels confident to offer alternative viewpoints and freely disclose their personal concerns and weaknesses. Other strategies such as developing shared goals, deprivatising one’s own practice, establishing supportive systems, helping teachers to see each other’s strengths, and sharing leadership contribute to the establishment and maintenance of effective teams. 

  • Does everyone in our team listen to others and respect and value different ideas and viewpoints?
  • Does everyone in our team feel comfortable and confident to share their thoughts and concerns?
  • Does the team have a common understanding of our shared goals and work together to achieve them?
  • Do we engage in collective learning by observing each other’s teaching, offering and accepting feedback, and sharing and evaluating new approaches?
  • Is leadership shared within our team and does it work effectively to support teachers in their learning and practice?

Research reviews

Professional learning communities in early childhood education

An introduction to the research on PLCs in early childhood education.

Promoting leaderful practice in team-oriented settings

An approach to team-work and leadership that emphasises concurrence, collectivity, collaboration and compassion, with strategies to promote leaderful practices among team members.

Teacher wellbeing in early years contexts

The crucial importance of teacher wellbeing and how early childhood settings can protect and enhance it.

Webinars

Belonging, equity, and teacher identity in early childhood education

LIVE EVENT: 7.30PM WEDNESDAY JULY 16, 2025
Dr Kiri Gould of the University of Auckland will explore teacher identity in early childhood education, and how it intersects with discourses of equity, belonging, and inclusion

Building resilience to support teacher wellbeing

Dr Sarah Ferguson shares her extensive knowledge about how to promote workplace wellbeing, including providing educators with tools and strategies that help them to build their resilience and improve their wellbeing

Appreciative inquiry for effective team-building

Dr Chris Jenkin (AUT) discusses the benefits and growth that come from approaching team-building from an appreciative inquiry perspective.

Bicultural leadership and practice in early childhood education

This session with Deanna Niha, from an early childhood centre in Whangarei, discusses how her centre approaches bilingual and bicultural education and leadership.

Exploring relationships, collaboration and participation in diverse teaching teams

This webinar explores ways teachers might come together to harness the opportunities of diversity and relationships for the benefit of children and families.
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Infographics

Leadership in Early Childhood Education infographic

Developing the leadership practices of teachers and leaders.

Snapshots

Kotahitanga: Working together as a collective

How effective teams work together and support each other.
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