Find out about early childhood development in the countries where the campaign operates:
Spain has invested in policy areas impacting early childhood development (ECD). In 2021, under the General State Budget, a budget line has been earmarked for early childhood education and care (ECEC). As part of its pre-government agreement, the current government coalition pledged to “protect public services, especially education” and promote nursery schools from birth to three-yearsold throughout its term in office. In addition, in June 2020, a Minimum Living Income (461,5 euros per month as a basic amount, which can be increased depending on the needs of the applicant) was introduced and now provides support, especially to the most vulnerable children and their families.
Serbia has made adequate efforts over the past year to deliver on early childhood development policies and to support families with young children. Serbia has a national law or act guaranteeing access to basic ECD services in Education, Health, Nutrition, and/or Social and Child Protection for all children under 6.
Romania has made important progress over the past years in delivering some early childhood development (ECD) policies and in supporting families with young children. Government commitment enforce for early childhood education and care (ECEC) was enacted in 2020 when ECEC was included in the National Defence Strategy (2020-2024). This broad legislation codifies and operationalises prior laws including, but not limited to, compulsory preschool. Another interesting development to be noted in 2020 is the amendment of the Tax Code allowing special credits for those companies that pay ECEC services for their employees up to 300 euros per month.
Portugal has made little progress over the past years in delivering early childhood development (ECD) policies and supporting families with young children. Specifically, there is no national law or act guaranteeing access to basic ECD services in Education, Health, Nutrition, and/or Social and Child Protection for all children under six years of age. There is a lack of sufficient data regarding young children across ECD policy areas, and it has become evident that the investment in ECD is not holistic.
There are some developments regarding the early childhood education and care (ECEC) policy area. These include the intention to bring forward the legal entitlement to an ECEC place from the age of three (it is currently four) and, since September 2020, depending on household income, families have free of charge access to publicly subsidised crèches for children under three years of age.
Ireland has made good progress over recent years in delivering early childhood development (ECD) policies and in supporting families with young children. Specifically, numerous policy provisions provide access to early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in health, and/or social and child protection services. Although early education is not compulsory in Ireland, and children can start attending a free, universal pre-school programme from the age of two years and eight months, different strategies and schemes have been introduced to address the needs of families and children in a holistic way.
Hungary has made some progress over the past years to create early childhood development (ECD) policies and support families with young children. For example, the number of places in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) services for children under three years of age (nursery/crèche) have slightly increased due to the creation of flexible types of services, namely, small nurseries in settlements with fewer children, as well as nurseries at workplaces so that parents have day care facilities close to their work.
In recent years, France has made good progress in bringing further visibility to early childhood development (ECD) and the situation of young children and their families, by delivering policies and national strategies aimed at creating the right conditions for children’s development from the very early years. The report on the first 1.000 days of life, released in September 2020, represents key foundations for the early years, through a holistic approach to education, health, child protection, and parenting support.
Finland has made moderate progress over the past years in delivering early childhood development (ECD) policies and supporting families with young
children. Specifically, there is a national law or act guaranteeing access to basic ECD services in Education, Health, Nutrition, and/or Social and Child
Protection for all children under six. In Finland, there is a nationwide social security system. Yet, there are regional disparities that concern access to services. In addition, there is a lack of coordination of child policies at the national level and a lack of coordination of services for young children and families at the local level.
The information provided in this Country Profile reflects the situation at the end of May 2021. Country profiles look at key indicators across all the countries involved in the campaign and identify gaps in national data and evidence on early childhood.
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