Journal of Early Childhood Research, Ahead of Print.
Over recent years there has been a raft of literature drawing attention to the inequity of working conditions for those in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector in England; however, it remains rare that we have the opportunity to hear the voices of the practitioners telling their own story. Through an online anonymous survey, we gained rich qualitative data from 59 ECEC practitioners in England who discussed feeling disillusionment, injustice and exhaustion; experiences and emotions that were magnified through their experiences during and after the pandemic. In this article we argue that the ECEC sector has reached breaking point, and that immediate action is needed if we are to avoid the loss of a passionate, skilled and dedicated workforce, and if we are to avoid the risk of our most vulnerable children suffering the consequences.

Journal of Early Childhood Research, Ahead of Print.
Project-based learning (PBL) is a learning method considered suitable for the spirit of the times and the period because of its ability to promote the acquisition of the skills required in the 21st century. In recent years, this method has been gaining increased expression in education systems worldwide and the Israeli education system as well. The present study examined the learning experience of kindergarten managers with PBL from their own perspectives. Sixteen experienced kindergarten managers with more than 10 years of seniority participated in the study. The research used a qualitative method and data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews. The main findings reveal the characteristics of PBL in kindergartens, as well as evaluation processes and reflective aspects of the evaluation of PBL. The main conclusions of this study are that PBL implementation in Israeli kindergartens is in an advanced stage, that the project is constructed until the final product is completed and presented, and that the PBL method contributes greatly to the functioning of the learners in the 21st century.