Early Childhood Education and Care Home Page

Bookmark this page: www.oecd.org/edu/earlychildhood

 

 

This site is dedicated to the OECD reviews of national early childhood policies and organisation. The Review was initiated by the OECD Education Committee in 1996. The actual reviewing of the OECD countries began in 1998 and terminated in 2004. Twenty countries were reviewed: Australia, Austria, Belgium (two communities), Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. 

Invited by the participating countries, in each country OECD expert teams evaluated policy, programmes and provision for children from birth to compulsory school age. Prior to the review, participating countries published a Background Report describing current policy and practice, and outlining the challenges that ECEC policy faces in the coming years. After the expert review, the OECD published a Country Note noting the issues observed, and suggesting solutions and recommendations for the consideration of the competent authorities. Detailed information and review outputs can be accessed by clicking on the following rubrics: 

 

Starting Strong (Early Childhood Education and Care) Network

Presentation of the OECD Network on Early Childhood Education and Care


Thematic Review Workshops
This rubric gives notice of coming events and provides information about countries and status of Background Reports and Country Notes.

History and Context of the Reviews
This rubric describes the initial rationale for proposing a review of early childhood services, and outlines the objectives of the review.

Documents from the OECD Thematic Review
Lists all published documents including: Starting Strong, Starting Strong II and Executive Summaries in English, French and Spanish; Country Profiles from Starting Strong; Background Reports; Country Notes; and Workshop papers.

Thematic Workshops and Documents
This rubric is used to inform the national co-ordinators concerning past and future workshops. Bi-annual workshops were organised by the secretariat, in co-operation with a hosting country, on topics of concern to policy makers.


Background Reports
These are comprehensive reports on the status of ECEC policy in participating countries commissioned by government ministries and prepared by a team of researchers in each country. 

Country Notes
These are reports written by the OECD expert teams. Country Notes highlight policy issues, interesting initiatives and innovative programmes in the countries under review, and make recommendations for consideration by the public authorities.

Country Profiles
These are the profiles of the countries that have participated in the review. Each profile uses the following descriptors: auspices of ECEC; developments; country context; provision; staffing and training; policy issues.

Contacts
Coordinates of OECD Secretariat Staff involved in the activity.

Useful Links
Links to Early Childhood Ministries and selected research bodies worldwide.

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