Executive Summary
This report includes a comparative review of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) quality monitoring and assurance systems in 11 European countries. As differences in quality monitoring and assurance across Europe exist, the study examines the links between European countries’ systems of ECEC provision and quality monitoring and assurance, and possible consequences for the effects of ECEC on child development.
The report is part of the project Curriculum Quality Analysis and Impact Review of European Early Childhood Education and Care (CARE), funded by the European Union’s 7th Framework program (THEME [SSH.2013.3.2-2] Early childhood education and care: promoting quality for individual, social and economic benefits). The task reported on here is part of work package four (WP4), entitledImpact of ECEC in short, medium and long-term. Within WP4, this deliverable (D4.3) entails a comparative review of quality monitoring and assurance systems across Europe.
The comparative review resulted in a typology focusing on four different main aspects: ECEC system characteristics (such as governance structure, funding system and legal framework), curriculum, staff and monitoring. The typology is grounded on theoretically founded assumptions and empirical evidence regarding effects on process quality.In line with other reports emerging from the CARE project, and with the common research practice, we adopted a structural-processual understanding of quality in ECEC.The report synthesizes findings regardingECEC quality monitoring and assurance systems by pointing out the specific links between ECEC system characteristics, curriculum, staff and monitoring, and indicating connections between these four main aspects of ECEC and ECEC process quality.
Besides the typology, the report also contains detailed case studies for four countries: Germany, England, Greece and Norway. With the help of the case studies, the different aspects of the typology will be described in an interrelated way.
ECEC can only reach its goal to promote development and well-being in children, and contribute towards more equal chances and opportunities in society, if participation in ECEC and good quality of ECEC are assured. This report aims to contribute towards a better understanding of how ECEC systems in Europe currently work towards ensuring accessible good quality early childhood education and care and what could be improved to ensure that ECEC can reach its potential.