Early Childhood Development and Early Childhood Education and Care
Sub-report on Early Childhood Development and Early Childhood Education and Care based on assessments provided by Eurochild members in 26 countries.
On 20 November - World Children’s Day - Eurochild released a report on children in need titled Children's rights: political will or won't? which gathers information from 38 Eurochild members in 26 European countries. It identifies solutions and recommendations for governments to better support children and families.
Several Eurochild members highlighted issues related to early childhood development (ECD), in particular access to quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) in their country. The report findings on ECD and ECEC include both challenges and some positive developments.
Overall, on ECD and ECEC the report recommends:
- To deliver change for the most vulnerable families; the social intervention must be demand- driven.
- Support to preventative measures should start from the prenatal and early years of children. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are a time of unique and rapid development and are highly influenced by the child’s environment, early experiences, and interactions.
- Increased support and public investment in nurturing care and quality early years services, essential for tackling child poverty, inequality and social exclusion.
