Anna Smoczynska

• Head of the Polish EURYDICE Unit in the Foundation for the Development of the Education System
• Member of the Thesaurus Management Group and the TESE Linguistic Equivalents Group (EURYDICE Network, European Commission)

“Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe: Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities” - Information about a new Eurydice publication

The European Commission published in January 2009 a new EURYDICE study on early childhood education and care in Europe, and on what measures are taken to favour participation of the most disadvantaged social groups. Examining national policies in 30 countries, the study explores how early childhood education and care is organized in Europe, what the benefits of the different systems are, and what is needed to provide effective education and care to the youngest.

The study, is part of the follow-up to the 2006 Commission Communication on Equity and Efficiency in European Education and Training Systems. The study covers the European Union Member States and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The presentation will focus on the main organizational models for early childhood education and care services (a single structure vs. a separate provision according to age-group), on policies for disadvantaged children and on the most important elements that ensure high-standard care and education, particularly on high-level training for educational staff.