Only eight European countries – Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Malta, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden and Norway – guarantee a legal right to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) soon after a child’s birth, normally after the end of paid maternity or parental leave.
In all other countries, the gap between the end of maternity / parental leave and legal entitlement to ECEC is more than two years. This is one of the main findings of a new report published by the European Commission.
The report shows that the provision of quality ECEC is affected in many countries by lack of funding, staff shortages, employees with low qualifications and an absence of educational guidelines for teachers and other staff. This is a serious concern, as one in four children in Europe under the age of six is at risk of poverty or social exclusion and may need specific support for their educational needs.
“Supporting young children, particularly the most vulnerable ones living in poverty, should be an obligation,” said Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth. “Early childhood education and care is increasingly accessible but many EU Member States need to make significant improvements. Quality ECEC is an essential building block for economic and social fulfilment and mobility later in life.”
According to the report, Key Data on Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe 2014, affordability is the key factor for ensuring that all children have access to ECEC. Fees vary greatly across Europe and reductions are often provided for low-income families and those facing hardship. Fees for children under three are highest in Ireland, Luxembourg, the UK and Switzerland (countries where private provision dominates). Charges are lowest in Eastern European and Nordic countries.
Good teaching and learning practices largely determine the quality of ECEC. Educational steering guidelines are essential for setting standards. However, these guidelines are restricted to ECEC provision for children aged three or above in around half of the countries surveyed.
In many countries the qualification requirements for staff working with the youngest children are lower than for those working with older children, where they normally need at least a bachelor level degree. In ten countries staff working with younger children are not required to have more than an upper secondary qualification. In two countries, there is no minimum level of qualification for working with younger children (Ireland and Slovakia).
The Commission will propose a framework document, together with the Eurydice report, at a conference in Athens on June 19 where European-wide ECEC policies were to be discussed between policy-makers, major stakeholders including Eurochild and the European Parents Association (EPA) and international organisations.
The report covers 32 European countries – all EU Member States except the Netherlands, plus Iceland, Turkey, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. National information sheets at the end of the report provide a concise overview of the key features of each country’s ECEC system.
For more information
Full statement: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-695_en.htm
European Commission: Education and training
Follow Androulla Vassiliou on Twitter @VassiliouEU
