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European Education Area

Quality education and training for all

Early childhood education and care in Europe: Reinforcing the continuous professional development (CPD) of ECEC staff

Participants will discuss national and local strategies and working methods to further professionalise ECEC staff in Europe. 
13 September 2021

Supporting professional development with continuing professional development opportunities

On 13 September, the European Commission will host an online event on early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Europe focusing on Reinforcing the continuous professional development (CPD) of ECEC staff.

This webinar is part of the series ‘Early childhood education and care in Europe’, initiated by European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, at the launch event on 3 March 2021.

During the event, participants will discuss national and local strategies and working methods to further professionalise ECEC staff in Europe. 

The event will be held in English. It follows a previous webinar on recruitment and initial training. Further online events will be organised in 2021 - stay tuned for more!

Background

At the ECEC in Europe launch event on 3 March 2021, Commissioner Gabriel presented the report 'How to recruit, train and motivate well-qualified staff'.

The ET 2020 Working Group on Early Childhood Education and Care has 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 European Union (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

  • Anna-Maria Giannopoulou - Deputy Head of Unit, Schools and multilingualism, Directorate-General Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), European Commission

Organising and facilitating participation in CPD

European recommendations to facilitate the professional journey

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

Local and national strategies

  • Jean-François Pierre - French Ministry for Solidarity and Health
  • Juliette Fougère - French Ministry for Solidarity and Health
  • Liv Dyrdal - Norwegian Ministry of Education
  • Franca Locati - City of Milan, Italy
  • Birgitta Henecke - City of Malmö, Sweden

Q&A

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

The various forms of CPD

The various forms of CPD - focusing on professional learning communities.

The various formats of CPD

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

A focus on Professional Learning Communities

Based on the NESET report 'Transforming European ECEC services and Primary schools into professional learning communities: Drivers, barriers and ways forward'

  • Jan Peeters - University of Ghent 

Results of the Erasmus+ VALUE project

VALUE project (value diversity in care and education)

  • Sandra Van der Mespel - Centre for Innovation in the Early Years

Q&A

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

Conclusion
 

Follow the event online

Watch the online event live from 14:00-16:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST) on 13 September!

You can also watch the event at:

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 focuses on teachers and trainers. 

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

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