Encouraging Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care

7-8 December 2009, OECD ParisDr. Martina Peucker

Kinder und Jugend

Child and Youth Policy in Germany - The Federal OrderI Federal Republic of Germany is formed by the Federation

itself and 16 Federal States.

I Division of responsibilities between the Federation and the Federal States.

I Local self-government in cities, municipalities and counties, which have the right to act in full self-determination and govern the affairs of their local communities in the framework of existing legislation.

ECEC policies are designed and promoted at the Federal, Federal States and municipal levels.

Kinder und Jugend

ECEC - a challenge which all societal groups and protagonists need to face

I Governmental policy anchored in the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

I Predominant part of the education system and cultural policy falls to the Federal States as an object of the legislation.

I Entire responsibility for child and youth welfare remains at a municipal level and non-profit agencies - direct and socially concrete relationship to ECEC services.

Kinder und Jugend

ECEC Development in Germany today

I Federal government in cooperation with the Federal States and local authorities fosters the expansion of day care for children until age three and made 4 billion Euros available:

I Children’s Advancement Act 2008: Day care for children until age three should be extended by 2013 in order to meet the actual needs of parents and their children.

I By 2013, every third child under the age of three should be provided with day care facilities.

I As from 2013, the legal claim to day care facilities for children from the age of one will be introduced.

I Thirty percent of the new day care places will be provided at family day care.

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Current policies on Quality in ECEC in Germany

I To create equal chances, quality of ECEC should be ensured by:

• Comprehensive evaluation of ECEC, based on annual statistics and surveys.

• Action program “Family Day Care” fosters qualification of family day care staff.

• Measures in order to reach an consensus on prospective standards for quality in ECEC .

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Key Policy Challenges with regard to OECD policy prioritiesI To improve working conditions and qualification of

ECEC staff

I To develop broad guidelines and curricular standards with all stakeholders, in particular with regard to language promotion

I To encourage family involvement

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Expected benefits from the ECEC-Project

I Exchange of views on indicators for quality in the international landscape

I Cross-sectoral analysis on ECEC

I Promoting dialogue and building consensus among all relevant stakeholders

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Thank you for your attention!