Raising the quality of early childhood education and care

Highlights

High-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a powerful equalizer for children’s development and lifetime opportunities. It lays the foundations for learning and competence development and helps combat inequalities and social exclusion, favouring especially the most vulnerable children. ECEC is also an important policy tool for employment, enabling parents to reconcile family and work life.

Children’s right to affordable, high-quality ECEC is recognised a core principle under the European Pillar of Social Rights. Through the European Education Area (EEA) Member States have pledged to improve its accessibility, inclusivity and quality.