Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe:

Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

Presented at a conference

Eurydice: i sistemi educativi europei al traguardo del 2010 (MIUR, Roma)

2009 Sep 25 by

Akvile Motiejunaite

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

“Pre-primary education has the highest returns in terms of the social adaptation of children.

Member States should invest more in pre-primary education as an effective means to

establish the basis for further learning, preventing school drop-out, increasing equity

of outcomes and overall skill levels”

Commission Communication ‘Efficiency and Equity in European Education and Training Systems’

(September 2006)

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

• Discusses publicly subsidised and accredited provision for children under compulsory school age

• Defines at risk children –‘children with disadvantages stemming mainly from socio-economic, cultural and/or language factors. The need arises from disadvantages attributable to these factors’ (OECD)

• Covers 30 countries of Eurydice network

• Refers to year 2006/2007

The study: definitions

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

(1) a review of scientific literature on the impact of high quality education and care on young children;

(2) a summary of statistical data on relevant demographic characteristics of European families and the participation rates in ECEC;

(3) a comparative analysis of policy measures based on information collected from national units of the Eurydice network.

The study: structure

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

What does research tell us?

ECEC benefits all children if

intensive, early starting, child-focused, centre based

+high qualified staff (specialised BA)

+ low staff/child ratios

+parent involvement, family support

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

• 12 % of total households

• Potential groups at-risk:– 17 % of households on the poverty threshold

(PL, LT, UK, EE, IT, PT, LU > 20 %)

– Single parent households 9 %

– Non-national children 3 % (~ethnic minority and immigrant?)

European families with young children (under 6s)

Co

mb

ina

tio

n

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

• All countries have subsidised and accredited ECECLimited or no for under 3s in CZ, EL, IE, NL, PL, UK, LI

• Separate model: childcare vs. education

• Unitary model: childcare with education

Parental employment statuscatchments' area

age

universal access

What is the current situation regarding ECEC in Europe?

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

Model A: Unitary settings

0-1 year to 5-6 years with or without pre-primary classes

Mix A + B

Model B: Separate settings

under 2-3 years over 2-3 years

Main models of (accredited and subsidised) ECEC provision according to the age of children, 2006/07

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

Italy: Separate settings

Asilo nido Scuola dell’infanzia

0 3 6

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

Upper or post secondary education

Level and minimum duration of initial education and training for staff working with children under 2-3 years, 2006/07

Tertiary education

Level and minimum duration of initial education and training for staff working with children over 2-3 years ( ISCED 0), 2006/07

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

3 4 5 6

ISCED 0 ISCED 1

74 %

87 %93 %

99.8 %Participation rate of children

from 3-6 years by agein pre-primary (ISCED 0) and primary (ISCED 1) education,

EU-27, 2005/06

Problematic access for: under-3s (no Eurostat data!)rural areas

Large variation between countries

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SETTINGS

Additional financial resourcesMore favourable staff/child ratios Incentives for staff

What is done for disadvantaged children?

TO FAMILIESDecreasing costs

SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

family income and number of children

Means of enhancing affordability of ECEC for the youngest, 2006/07

Free access in all subsidised andaccredited services

Level of fees paid for accredited public sector ECEC services adjusted according to

Tax advantages available for use of accredited fee-paying ECEC services in the public sector

criteria other than family size and income

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

PARENTALSUPPORT

POLICY MAKERS MAY HAVE A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON

HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION AND CARE Intensive verbal interactions

Cognitive stimulationGood climateSocialisation

STAFF TRAINING Level

Duration Skills required

PROVISIONCapacity/volumeAge of access

Staff ratioFees

InvolvementIn ECEC

ReducingCost

GREATEST BENEFITS TO CHILDREN AT RISK

Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities

Grazie!

The report is available onwww.eurydice.org