Educational inequality remains a fundamental challenge for modern democracies, dictating long-term outcomes in employment, health and wealth.
Research indicates that these disparities are not just a product of schooling but are evident as early as 9 months of age, with children from migrant, ethnic minority and low-income backgrounds facing the steepest barriers. To mitigate these early gaps, inclusion in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) has been a critical lever for fostering equity.
The Policy Cycle is a 6-step process that serves as a state-of-the-art and evidence-based guide to conduct ECEC policymaking, from problem identification to successful implementation, evaluation, and maintenance.
The policy cycle is as a model that can be used to scrutinize each step of policy development, implementation and evaluation.
In this section, which draws on STRIDE empirical research, we present examples of policy interventions that aim to address early childhood educational inequality across five national contexts: Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Poland, and the UK.
Each case study presents a detailed and straightforward analysis of different policy solutions in ECE developed to mitigate educational inequality and uses the policy cycle model as an analytical framework. Each case study offers additional information on insights from key stakeholders, barriers and enablers, and transfer potential of presented ECE policy solutions.
In result, policymakers and knowledge brokers are provided with the evidence-based framework that can support navigating the process of designing, implementing and evaluating interventions in ECE in their countries more effectively.
The National Cases are country cases that address early childhood educational inequality across five national contexts: Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Poland, and the UK.
Each case study provides a detailed analysis of different approaches to mitigating educational inequality using the policy cycle model as an analytical framework.
The cross-country overview section you find here provides further insights on the broader implications of different ECE interventions in reducing educational inequalities.
Using interactive tools, you can identify and explore ECEC policy initiatives across five national contexts and find out about contextual factors that play a key role in the effectiveness of ECE policymaking.
[again, we could add some more explanation here in terms of why it is important to look at these cases for knowledge brokers and policymakers, maybe?)
The comparative section provides further insights into early childhood education policymaking.
It offers key policy and practice recommendations, organised across all the stages of the policy cycle framework and spanning international, national and local levels.
In this section, the STRIDE Toolbox offers state-of-the-art, evidence-based tools to inspire, guide, and inform ECE policymaking in Europe, from problem identification to successful implementation, evaluation, and maintenance.
The policy cycle model is used to scrutinise each step of policy development, implementation, and evaluation in ECE, organised across all the stages of the policy cycle framework and spanning international, national and local levels.
In this section, the STRIDE Toolbox offers state-of-the-art, evidence-based tools to inspire, guide, and inform ECE policymaking in Europe, from problem identification to successful implementation, evaluation, and maintenance.
The policy cycle model is used to scrutinise each step of policy development, implementation, and evaluation in ECE, organised across all the stages of the policy cycle framework and spanning international, national and local levels.
Educational inequality dictates long-term outcomes in employment, health, and wealth. Research indicates that these disparities are evident as early as 9 months of age, with children from migrant, ethnic minority, and low-income backgrounds facing the steepest barriers. Inclusion in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is a critical lever to mitigate these early gaps and foster equity.