Maureen Longley

Maureen has extensive experience across the early years sector having held a variety of statutory and voluntary organisation roles at both strategic and operational levels. From setting up daycare on a factory site to leading a 10 year development programme for a London local authority incorporating many innovative projects to meet the needs of local families. As lead coordinator for Victim Support in South Essex Maureen worked in partnership with Essex police, criminal justice system and other community groups to support victims of crime, reduce incidents of domestic violence, racially motive incidents and develop community cohesion.

As a Sure start local programme manager Maureen successfully established this new initiative in area with high levels of deprivation; working closely with community representatives and parents to deliver quality services that make a difference to children’s lives.

Always passionate about training and supporting workforce development Maureen has been eastern region Programme Leader for the National Professional Qualification for Integrated Centre Leadership, an MA level leadership programme for children’s centre leaders, for the past six years. Also working as an early years associate for the national college of teaching and leadership supporting the development of system leadership skills within children’s centres, working with teaching schools and local authorities to plan and deliver early years provision and researching evidence of best practice.

Maureen has been involved in writing a number of case studies and made contributions to publications focused on listening to the voices of children and families, aimed at achieving best practice and better outcomes.