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Supporting the initial stages of ECEC staff’s professional journey

On 20 May, the European Commission will host an online event on early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Europe. Registration is not required, the event is open to anyone interested in the topic.

This webinar is part of the series ‘Early childhood education and care in Europe’, initiated by Commissioner Gabriel at the launch event on 3 March 2021. It will discuss ECEC staff in Europe, their recruitment and initial training.

The event will be held in English. Further online events will be organised throughout the spring and autumn 2021, including on ECEC staff continuous professional development (CPD). Stay tuned for more!

Follow the event online

Watch the online event live from 14:00-16:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST) (8:00 am EDT) on 20 May 2021 on Erasmus+!

You can also watch the event at:

• Erasmus+ on Facebook 

• Erasmus+ on Twitter

Background

At the ECEC in Europe launch event on 3 March 2021, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, presented the report on How to recruit, train and motivate well qualified staff.

The ET 2020 Working Group on early childhood education and care published guidelines that examine the variety of professions and profiles working in ECEC settings, the need to recognise the value of their work, how to make the professions attractive and how well-trained staff contribute to high-quality ECEC.

The EU Quality Framework for ECEC, annexed to the 2019 Council Recommendation for High-Quality ECEC Systems, recognises in its second principle the importance of ECEC staff.

Programme

Welcome

• Michael Teutsch, Head of Unit, Schools and Multilingualism, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), European Commission

  • Question: How to attract and retain staff in the ECEC profession?

    • Why is it difficult to teain ECEC staff?

      • Géraldine Libreau, Policy Officer, Schools and multilingualism, DG EAC, European Commission

    • Raising attractiveness of the profession: Valuing the profession, improving working conditions and career opportunities

      • Stig Lund, European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE)

      • Viktoria Szűcs, European Public Service Union (EPSU)

    • Creative recruitment strategies

      • Géraldine Libreau, Policy Officer, Schools and multilingualism, DG EAC, European Commission

      • Lieve de Bosscher, City of Ghent / Eurocities

  • Topic: Improving initial training strategies can improve both the attractiveness of the prfession and teh quality of the education and care delivered.

    • Introduction

      • Michael Teutsch, Head of Unit, Schools and multilingualism, DG EAC, European Commission

    • Importance of work-based learning: A focus on induction periods

      • Géraldine Libreau, Policy Officer, Schools and multilingualism, DG EAC, European Commission

      • Lieve de Bosscher, City of Ghent / Eurocities

      • Brigita Mark, Ministry of Education, Slovenia

Conclusion

Questions can be asked in advance by writing to eac-et2020-wg-ecec@ec.europa.eu or during the event via Erasmus+ on Facebook and Twitter.

Follow the event online

Watch the online event live from 14:00-16:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST) on 20 May 2021!

You can also watch the event at:

• Erasmus+ on Facebook 

• Erasmus+ on Twitter

Towards a European Education Area

Early childhood education and care policy has a key role to play in the Commission’s vision to achieve a European Education Area by 2025, as outlined in the 2020 Communication. One of the dimensions of this vision is on teachers and trainers. 

In particular, the Commission will support Member States in addressing teacher shortages and boosting the diversification and attractiveness of teaching careers.