Chair of Early Education Julian Grenier confirmed that Ms Pacey, who has been chief executive for more than four years, is leaving to pursue other opportunities.
The charity’s major areas of work are to support and develop early years practitioners in the field, promote what happens in early years, and focus on what’s best for children and families.
In the past 18 months, Early Education’s work has included writing Development Matters, the non-statutory guidance for the EYFS, and contributing to the Nutbrown Review.
The early years organisation started in 1923 and celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. It started life as the National Association of Nursery Schools, founded by Margaret McMillan, who opened England’s first nursery school in 1914. The organisation now represents a wide range of early years practitioners and professionals from a range of different agencies.
‘It’s an important and long-lived organisation,' Mr Grenier added. ‘We play a leading role in developing national policy and always speaking up for children’s entitlement to the best early education. The core purpose of Early Education is to advocate for young children and the best quality early education.’
Mr Grenier told Nursery World, ‘Over the last four-and- a-half years, Megan has done an excellent job as chief executive and helped the charity through a potentially difficult financial position; she has also boosted our profile and has worked very effectively to pursue the charity’s overall aims. As a result, we are now well positioned to thrive for many years to come. Megan is looking forward to taking the next steps in her career and on behalf of the board of trustees I would like to say how much I have appreciated her work and that I wish her all the best for the future.’
The position of chief executive is advertised on Early Education’s website as carrying a salary of £46,152- £53,554, plus inner London weighting and contributory pension.
He added, ‘We plan to have an overlap between Megan and the new appointment, with a smooth transition and plan to have someone in post by the end of September for our AGM.’
‘Megan has done a phenomenal job for early education. We feel this is a very, very critical time for the early years. Lots of changes are happening and under Megan’s leadership Early Education has been very influential in leading the debate. We need someone to set the agenda and inform Government of the widespread concerns in the sector.'
