Better curricula for a diverse Europe
Quality ECEC can have important, positive impact on children, their opportunities, and health and well-being. Beyond individual benefits, it can also benefit society. The EU-funded CARE project identified key issues and questions for the development of effective policy measures and instruments. They addressed assessing the impact of ECEC, optimising quality and curricula, enhancing the professional competencies of staff and increasing the inclusiveness of ECEC for children from disadvantaged situations. A main challenge the researchers faced was the need for a framework for ECEC that integrates multiple goals and perspectives, based on the competencies and skills that young children need to develop in society. At the same time, CARE worked to identify strategies and policy measures that are in line with the EU strategies for 2020. Thus, multiple quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used. While conducting the studies the team was attentive to cultural differences in views, beliefs and preferences in the 11 countries involved. They analysed a representative set of existing European curricula for ECEC. In so doing, they specified the values of each country, the domains of learning and development that needed to be covered, and the goals and pedagogies to support them. Project work resulted in two main research products. One is the European Framework of Quality and Wellbeing Indicators. This gathers evidence-based recommendations to increase ECEC beneficial impact on children and their families and communities. The other is the CARE Video Library which provides videos that highlight examples of best practices in European ECEC. These include cross-cultural commonalities in several ECEC systems while respecting cultural diversity in Europe. The videos have been used for professional development. Results have been disseminated in over 20 scientific reports and 9 papers in professional journals.
Keywords
Curricula, early-childhood education and care, care, ECEC, European Framework of Quality and Wellbeing Indicators
