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

Activities
of the
Partners
■ Highlight particularly innovative policies and practices; and
■ Contribute to the INES (Indicators of Education Systems) project
by identifying the types of data and instruments to be developed
in support of ECEC information collection, policy-making,
research, monitoring and evaluation.
Scope of the review and major issues for investigation
In order to examine thoroughly what children experience in the first years
of life, the review will adopt a broad, holistic approach. It will study
policy, programmes and provision for children from birth to compulsory
school age, including the transition period from ECEC to primary
schooling. Consideration will be given to the roles of families, communities
and other environmental influences on children’s early learning
and development. In particular, the review will investigate concerns
about quality, access and equity with an emphasis on policy development in
the following areas: regulations, staffing, programme content and
implementation, family engagement and support, funding and financing.
Organisation of the review process
The review process has five main elements:
1. To inform the planning and implementation of the review, a series
of working papers have been prepared on the following topics:
ECEC developments in OECD countries; ECEC regulations; training
and education for ECEC staff; financing ECEC services; and
economic aspects of ECEC.
2. Guided by a common framework, each participating country will draft
a Background Report that will provide a concise overview of the country
context, major issues and concerns, distinctive ECEC policies and
provision, innovative approaches and available evaluation data.
3. A multinational team of reviewers with diverse policy and analytical
backgrounds will then study the Background Report and other relevant
materials, prior to conducting an intensive case study visit of the
country in question.
4. Following the Review Visit, a short Country Note will be prepared by the
OECD Secretariat, which will draw upon information provided in
the Background Report, the Review Team assessment and other relevant
sources. The Note will provide insights into current ECEC policy,
the major challenges encountered, the means adopted to meet
national goals, and it will explore feasible policy options to ensure
quality, access and equity.
5. The review will be completed by a Comparative Report drafted by the
OECD Secretariat. The report will provide a comparative review
and analysis of ECEC policy in all thirteen participating countries.
Focusing on key policy issues and responses in the ECEC field, its
interim drafts will benefit from the contributions of national representatives
and experts at future meetings. The Comparative Report
will be available in early 2001.
With approval from country authorities, Background Reports, Country
Notes and other review findings will be shared with all interested policy
makers, researchers, programme developers and practitioners.
Network Notes COORDINATORS’ NOTEBOOK, ISSUE 22
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