Inclusive ECCD: - Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and ...

Network Notes COORDINATORS’ NOTEBOOK, ISSUE 22
Christian Children’s Fund
Christian Children’s Fund is currently at work in 30 countries, and,
like many groups within the CG consortium, is striving to clarify and
articulate how to create higher quality, integrated programming in
support of young children’s development. They are focusing in particular
on incorporating children’s psychosocial well-being more
holistically into their work, which in the past has been stronger in
the health and nutrition dimension of care.
CCF emphasises community participation and mobilisation. They are
also focused on improving quality and consistency across their programmes,
and toward that end are promoting the use of a programming
Development Guide and the Well-being Strategy produced by Judith
Evans in collaboration with their Well-being Working <strong>Group</strong> in 1996.
CCF has produced a videotape, “Little Big Steps”, on their programme
within Honduras, in which community educators have trained local
mothers to serve as guide mothers, who interact with groups of 5–8
families to foster greater awareness of child development concerns
and better care for children.
For more information about CCF programmes contact: Dr.
Michelle Poulton, Director, Europe Office, Christian Children’s
Fund, Boite postale 2100, 150 route de Ferney, 1211 Geneve 2,
Switzerland, Tel: (41-22) 788 90 77, Fax: (41-22) 788 90 83, E-mail:
Michelle.ccf@cortex.ch
OECD
Thematic Review of Early Childhood
Education and Care Policy
In spring 1998, a new Thematic Review of Early Childhood Education and Care
Policy was launched under the auspices of the Education Committee 1
of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD). 2 Thirteen countries volunteered to participate in the review
between autumn 1998 and summer 2000: Belgium (Flemish and French
Communities), Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Mexico, the
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the United
Kingdom and the United States. These countries have reached agreement
concerning the framework, scope and process of the review and
have identified the major policy issues for investigation.
Review objectives
The goal of the review is to provide cross-national information to
improve policy-making and planning in early childhood education
and care (ECEC) in all OECD countries. With the aid of ministries
and the major actors in ECEC in each country, the review will seek to:
■ Distinguish and investigate the ECEC contexts, major policy concerns,
and policy responses to address these concerns in participating countries;
■ Explore the roles of national government, decentralised authorities,
NGOs and other social partners, and the institutional resources
devoted to planning and implementation at each level;
■ Identify feasible policy options suited to different contexts;
■ Evaluate the impact, coherence and effectiveness of different approaches;
Activities
of the
Partners
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