Early Childhood Policies and Systems in Eight Countries

Abstract

In summary, this report includes: 1. public, private and voluntary ECE provision for children in ISCED Level 0 that falls within a national regulatory framework, i.e. has to comply with a set of rules, minimum standards and/or undergo accreditation procedures; 2. publicly-subsidized and non-subsidized private and voluntary provision; 3. the most common types of ECE provision. The report does not cover: 1. unregulated home-based provision; 2. settings that operate before or after the main ECE provision, e.g. breakfast clubs, after school clubs and holiday programs; 3. “specialist” provision, e.g. programs integrated into hospitals, orphanages or other such institutions; 4. pilot or experimental ECE provision.