Early childhood education and care
Early childhood education and care refers to any regulated arrangement that provides education and care for children from birth to compulsory primary school age.
What is the EU doing on early childhood education and care?
European Innovative Teaching Award
The Award recognises outstanding work by teachers and their educators engaged in European cooperation projects.
Discover the Teaching Award
School fruit, vegetables and milk scheme
The scheme is designed to help children follow a healthy diet.
Discover the school food scheme
Working Groups
Learn more about the work of European Education Area Strategic Framework Working Groups on early childhood education and care.
Early childhood education and care - updates
Early childhood education and care resources
Toolkit for inclusive early childhood education and care
The toolkit includes examples of best practices in ECEC and provides useful ideas for policymakers to improved its inclusivity.
Guidelines on how to recruit, train and motivate well-qualified ECEC staff
The guidelines propose a set of core competences for ECEC assistants, core practitioners and leaders to ensure a high level of provision.
Report on early childhood education and care and the COVID-19 pandemic
The report provides information on the guidance and support provided to ECEC services, staff and families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early childhood education and care documents
Discover a range of policy documents, informative reports, studies, infographics and factsheets on EU early childhood education and care policy.
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School Education Gateway
Stay up-to-date with the online platform for education professionals, researchers and policymakers. Explore the School Education Gateway
eTwinning
A platform for staff working in a school in one of the European countries involved to communicate, collaborate, develop projects and share. Join eTwinning
