Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN)’s Post

🌟 The Power of Quality Early Childhood Education 🌟 Excited to share insights from a groundbreaking study by AERO and the Queensland Brain Institute, revealing the strong link between high-quality early childhood education and positive child development outcomes in Australia. Key Takeaways: Quality Counts: Services rated as Exceeding National Quality Standard (NQS) significantly reduce developmental vulnerability. Focus Areas: Quality in educational programs, physical environments, and relationships with children are the strongest predictors of positive outcomes. Investing in these areas can make a substantial difference. Policy Impact: With government investment in ECEC nearing $15 billion annually, understanding how quality influences child development is more crucial than ever. This study reinforces the importance of striving for high-quality ECEC to ensure every child has the best start in life. Let’s continue to advocate for improvements in our education systems that prioritise our youngest learners! #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ChildDevelopment #QualityEducation #AERO #ECEC #AEDC #InvestInOurFuture https://lnkd.in/gQWnmtd6

UNESCO's latest global report highlights the critical role of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in tackling global learning and well-being challenges. The report reveals that only 1 in 3 children worldwide have access to quality ECCE and calls for a significant increase in funding, robust global partnerships, and comprehensive policy reforms. By placing young children at the center of educational policies, the report emphasizes that early investment in ECCE can significantly improve educational outcomes and well-being for children globally. At Sampark Foundation, we are deeply committed to transforming early education. Through our innovative initiatives like Sampark TV and Teach-Easy Kits, we have positively impacted the lives of 1.5 crore rural children across 8 states. By leveraging AI-enabled insights from over 10 lakh data points and guided by our 'Teachers First' philosophy, we ensure that our educational solutions are effective and engaging. Our efforts are dedicated to building a solid educational foundation that prepares young minds for a bright and successful future. Link - https://lnkd.in/ert-M6qE #EarlyChildhoodEducation #TeachersFirst

#InTheNews:     The Basic Education Committee received a comprehensive briefing on ECD from government departments and civil society last week. “Early Childhood Development Is in Need of Better Funding”, says Basic Education Committee.    Investing in ECD not only benefits young children but also offers multiple benefits for communities and the country at large.     Research has shown that children who receive quality early childhood education are better prepared for formal schooling and more likely to succeed academically, stay in school, and pursue higher education.     At IE, we believe that by investing in the early years of a child’s life, and positively impacting their learning, health and safety outcomes before they reach grade one, we may significantly alter the trajectory of their lives for the better. Through our investments, we aim to foster innovation in ECD and promote sustainable solutions that positively impact the lives of young children, especially those in low-resourced areas. #InvestEarly #0to6Matters

In a recent meeting, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education emphasised the urgent need for better funding and professionalisation of the Early Childhood Development sector. Some key takeaways from the meeting include: • Funding Challenges: Current subsidies are insufficient, compromising service quality and access for the poorest children. • Government Initiatives: Priorities include a mass registration drive for ECD centres, amending the Children’s Amendment Bill, and enhancing funding. • Collaborative Efforts: Government, civil society, and various departments are working together to ensure all children have access to quality ECD programs, safe environments, and good nutrition. Read more: https://ow.ly/I6CC50TiYa4

At Early Learning Association Australia, we believe every child has the right to access quality early childhood education and care.   We welcome Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement to remove the activity test. As stated in our recent submission to the Productivity Commission, “removing the activity test is a critical measure that will enable over 120,000 vulnerable families to enrol their children in subsidised ECEC for more than one day per week.” This change is not only an equity measure but also a long-term investment in improving educational outcomes for all children.   We would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the vital role of kindergarten education. With 90 percent of a child’s brain developing by the age of five, quality play-based learning is essential to support their growth and development. Research shows that attending at least two days of preschool for two years before school equips children with the cognitive, social, and emotional skills needed for lifelong learning and success.   We are excited to see more positive developments for the ECEC sector in 2025. #earlylearning #earlyeducation #childdevelopment

As part of the Global Dialogue hosted by Education Development Trust yesterday, I was privileged to facilitate a deep dive conversation with colleagues and partners on policy challenges and promising practices in Early Childhood Care and Education. It was wonderful to be joined by Kathy Sylva who kickstarted the conversation with insights from a study looking at ECCE policy in six high performing countries, and building on this, colleagues working in Jordan, UAE, UK and globally shared their experiences, insights and questions. As Kathy pointed out in her presentation, context matters and successful ECCE systems all look different, however it was interesting to hear common challenges and share promising practices from the group:   -There is increased recognition, at leadership and policy levels, of the connection between quality ECCE and later outcomes in secondary education and effective transitions into employment.   -While there is a universal challenge of recruitment, retention and motivation of ECCE practitioners, there were some promising practices shared by the group to address this:  investing in high quality in-service professional development improved practitioner motivation and reignited their passion for working with young children; putting in place clear career progression routes in the sector, including providing opportunities for becoming mentors, and creating a variety of leadership roles.  -A challenge raised is the need to not only consider quality of ECCE in formal settings such as kindergartens and day care centres, but also to focus on reaching children who are being cared for at home. Programmes which specifically target parents and primary care-givers, is an important component to improving ECCE quality, especially in contexts where there is low enrolment in formal settings. Thanks to everyone who joined us yesterday, it was great to learn and share from such experienced policy leaders and experts. Kathy Sylva Cate Noble Samir Farrag Arun Kanwar ZIAD SHATAT Carol Payne Muhadditha Al Hashimi amina alkawari Khawla Alhosani Lyn Challender Sabine Nguini Rob Marston Shravan Sawant Dan Sandhu

Check out this 3-minute read highlighting the importance of early childhood education and the respective investment still needed in the first state.

NESET has just published a report: Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care: State of Play in the EU Member States based on the European Quality Framework. The European Quality Framework (2019) proposes a comprehensive framework to define structural high-quality ECEC in the areas of accessibility, staff, curricula, monitoring and evaluation, and governance and funding. Apart from its notable use of the term ECEC (not early learning and care), the report provides some interesting insights in relation to Ireland: - Ireland is one of only three countries with a single-authority model in which, the authority that controls the whole ECEC system is not the ministry of education - Major changes in the ECEC sector in Ireland in recent years have aimed to regulate the ECEC sector, which was previously mostly informal for children under 4 years old. Although Ireland deploys a single-authority model for most ECEC services for children aged 4 to 6, there is at the same time a provision in primary schools, which falls completely under the authority of the Department of Education - Ireland is taking positive steps towards increasing staff competences. However, in relation to staff, the report notes 'there is still huge potential for improvement among the EU Member States. This is crucial, as well-qualified and well-supported staff and a diverse team are central to providing high-quality interactions with children and families, stressing the importance of process quality in ECEC. At the same time, good leadership is crucial to shaping the organisational conditions and strategies necessary to ensure quality.' https://lnkd.in/e6rK9Jax

‼️New Global Report by UNESCO and UNICEF Highlights Urgent Need for Investment in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). During my time working with Lively Minds , I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of quality early childhood education. These foundational years are crucial for promoting school readiness, foundational learning, and lifelong well-being. The latest report from UNESCO and UNICEF provides valuable insights into the current state of ECCE and outlines the steps needed to ensure all children have access to quality early education. Key Highlights: Current State: Almost 60% of children in low-income countries do not have access to early care and learning opportunities. Financial Gap: To meet national targets, low and lower-middle-income countries need to fill an annual financial gap of USD 21 billion and recruit at least six million more educators by 2030. Global Learning Crisis: An estimated 37% of the world's children will not reach minimum proficiency levels in reading by 2030 unless immediate action is taken. Policy Recommendations: The report calls for increased investment in ECCE, better training for educators, and stronger policies to ensure all children have the right to a strong educational foundation. It is imperative that we continue work to advocate for and implement the recommendations from this report. Investing in ECCE is investing in our future. Read the full report here:

We are excited to share our updated resource on early childhood education (ECE) for children aged 3 to 6—a critical pillar of Early Childhood Development. High quality ECE lays the foundation for lifelong learning, social development, and well-being. Evidence highlights that school readiness begins long before primary school, making equitable access to pre-primary education essential for reducing disparities and driving long-term economic growth. Over half of the world’s pre-primary-aged children lack access to ECE, with vulnerable populations being the most affected. Developed in collaboration with our partners, ECDAN's updated Knowledge Gateway on ECE explores evidence, guidelines, and practical insights to drive the scaling and sustainability of ECE initiatives. Together, we can ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive! 👉 Check out the new resource here: https://lnkd.in/eAyu_BQn #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #EducationForAll #SDG4 #KnowledgeGateway