Estonia's 2024 Biennial report on the implementation of the Child Guarantee – an overview
Three years after the adoption of the European Child Guarantee, EU Member States are releasing the first report on its implementation. The reports offer an overview of the context, target groups, and services established to execute the European Child Guarantee’s National Action Plans. Additionally, they include sections covering indicators, financing details, and insights and conclusions gleaned from the implementation process.
The Estonia Government submitted its 2024 Biennial report on the implementation of the Child Guarantee in April 2024.
The report focuses on:
- Preschool education and care: The Early Childhood Education Act, establishing a more uniform framework for kindergartens and childcare and requiring local governments to provide children with the opportunity to attend these services, will enter into force in January 2025. A transition period has been set for implementation.
- Education: Investment in restructuring the school network and vocational schools, increasing the participation of students with special needs in mainstream education, and ensuring high-quality youth work. Compulsory school education has been extended for children up to the age of 18.
- Healthy food: In state-maintained general education schools and many municipal schools, lunch is free for all students.
- Healthcare: Activities to integrate social and healthcare services. A reform for rehabilitation services and the revision of the Social Welfare Act will also support the transition from institutional to family and community-based care. Measures to support families with children in need have been introduced to reduce the burden of care for the family. Training courses on children’s mental health have been developed and disseminated.
- Healthy diet: Measures include updating guides for food provided in schools and vending machines, regulating school catering, providing free fruits and vegetables, and supporting organic food in schools.
Eurochild and its members will continue to call on Member States to release their biennial reports and work to ensure the Child Guarantee National Action Plans helps end child poverty.
This summary provides key highlights from the Biennial report on the Child Guarantee implementation in Estonia published in April 2024. It is not exhaustive or evaluative.