Journal articles: 'ECEC settings'

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Tonge, Karen, Rachel A. Jones, and Anthony D. Okely. "Environmental Influences on Children’s Physical Activity in Early Childhood Education and Care." Journal of Physical Activity and Health 17, no. 4 (April 1, 2020): 423–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2019-0119.

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Background: To examine the relationship between attributes of early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings and children’s physical activity and sedentary behavior. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 490 children aged 2–5 years from 11 ECECs. The ECEC routine, size of the outdoor environment, and time spent in the outdoor environment were calculated for each center. Children’s physical activity and sedentary time were measured using accelerometers. Multivariate linear regressions were used to examine associations of the attributes of ECEC centers with the outcome variables, adjusting for the effects of center clustering and gender. Results: Children in ECECs that offered free routines (where children can move freely between indoor and outdoor environments) had lower levels of sedentary time (28.27 min/h vs 33.15 min/h; P = .001) and spent more time in total physical activity (7.99 min/h vs 6.57 min/h; P = .008) and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (9.49 min/h vs 7.31 min/h; P = .008). Children in ECECs with an outdoor environment >400 m2 had less sedentary time (28.94 min/h vs 32.42 min/h; P = .012) than those with areas <400 m2. Conclusion: Modifiable practices such as offering a free routine and increasing time spent in outdoor environments could potentially offer an easy and sustainable way for ECEC centers to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary time among children.

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Bouillet, Dejana, and Sandra Antulić Majcen. "Risks of Social Exclusion Among Children in ECEC Settings: Assessments by Parents and ECEC Teachers." SAGE Open 12, no. 3 (July 2022): 215824402211266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/21582440221126636.

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Recognizing children at risk of social exclusion (RSE) is one of the key prerequisites for providing direct and appropriate support to children and their families. Timely and proper identification of children at RSE requires collaborative and team-based assessments that include standardized procedures outlined in protocols to accommodate child personality, family factors, and other needs. The objective of the research is to analyze the capacities of early childhood education and care (ECEC) teachers to assess the RSE of children by comparing their assessment with the assessment of parents. We used the data about 443 children between 5 and 7 years of age who were attending 10 ECEC institutions in Croatia. Children were assessed with two versions of the questionnaire. Data were analyzed on a descriptive level, and Cohen’s kappa coefficient was used to determine the agreement between parents’ assessments and ECEC teachers’ assessments. It was found that at least 30% of children in Croatian ECEC institutions had one or more RSE. The results indicate a low proportion of children at RSE recognized both by parents and by ECEC teachers. The Croatian ECEC teachers are not familiar with information that is important for a child’s development, such as poverty, quality of family relationships, and involvement in specialized treatments. These data highlight the need to improve the capacity of Croatian ECEC teachers to participate in the process of assessing the RSE of children.

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Maich, Kimberly, Adam Davies, Sharon Penney, Emily Butler, Gabrielle Young, and David Philpott. "Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Early Education and Care." Exceptionality Education International 29, no. 3 (December 20, 2019): 77–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.5206/eei.v29i3.9388.

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High quality early intervention is a crucial component of supportive and inclusive early childhood education and care (ECEC) and crucial for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For children with ASD, there is limited access to ECEC services and there is little research or writing on the importance of bridging even conversations between the fields of ECEC and special education needs. This paper addresses the importance of starting a conversation by delineating current literature on ASD and early intervention services while making recommendations for how practitioners and policy-makers can consider the needs of young children with ASD in ECEC programming, bringing together clinicians and educators in ECEC settings into broader and closer collaborations. Through investigating current wide-scale reports on ASD in ECEC and inclusive settings, screening, early intervention, and evidence-based interventions, as well as the specific needs of parents of children with ASD, we seek to bring such essential discussions to the forefront. In turn, practitioners can provide supportive early-years environments for children with ASD, as well as early intervention and identification services that support inclusive practices.

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Yoong, Sze Lin, Jannah Jones, Nicole Pearson, Taren Swindle, Courtney Barnes, Tessa Delaney, Melanie Lum, et al. "An Overview of Research Opportunities to Increase the Impact of Nutrition Intervention Research in Early Childhood and Education Care Settings According to the RE-AIM Framework." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 5 (March 8, 2021): 2745. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052745.

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Objective: To highlight opportunities for future nutrition intervention research within early childhood and education care (ECEC) settings, with a focus on generating evidence that has applicability to real-world policy and practice. Methods: An overview of opportunities to progress the field was developed by the authors using a collaborative writing approach and informed by recent research in the field. The group developed a list of recommendations aligned with the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Pairs of authors drafted individual sections of the manuscript, which were then reviewed by a separate pair. The first and senior author consolidated all sections of the manuscript and sought critical input on the draft iterations of the manuscript. Results: Interventions that employ digital platforms (reach) in ECEC settings, as well as research in the family day care setting (effectiveness) were identified as areas of opportunities. Research understanding the determinants of and effective strategies for dissemination (adoption), the implementation of nutrition programs, in addition to de-implementation (implementation) of inappropriate nutrition practices, is warranted. For maintenance, there is a need to better understand sustainability and the sustainment of interventions, in addition to undertaking policy-relevant research. Conclusions: The ECEC setting is prime for innovative and practical nutrition intervention research.

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Norheim, Helga, Thomas Moser, and Martine Broekhuizen. "Partnerships in multicultural ECEC settings in Norway: Perspectives from parents and professionals." Nordisk barnehageforskning 19, no. 1 (April 4, 2022): 40–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.23865/nbf.v19.228.

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Partnerships between parents and professionals in early childhood education and care (ECEC) are well established as being important for children’s well-being and learning, and may be especially significant for children with immigrant backgrounds. The present study uses data from the Inclusive Education and Social Support to Tackle Inequalities in Society (ISOTIS) project to investigate perspectives from parents and professionals regarding their mutual partnership as well as their views on multicultural and multilingual education in culturally and linguistically diverse ECEC settings in Norway. The findings indicate positive partnership views among the parents and professionals, but also suggest the opportunity to create a more shared understanding of the child’s behaviour and potential. The findings further suggest that both parents and professionals value educational practices that promote cultural diversity. However, beliefs regarding multilingual education diverge, indicating that although ECEC may play an important role in children’s multilingual education, there is little agreement on how this role should best be played.

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Pihanperä, Meri, Jaana Lepistö, and Inkeri Ruokonen. "An Integrative Literature Review of University-Based Early Childhood Education and Care Centres within Early Childhood Teacher Education Settings." Education Sciences 12, no. 2 (February 20, 2022): 141. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/educsci12020141.

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This research is an integrative literature review regarding the variety of university-based early childhood education and care (ECEC) centre models. This research focuses on those models that collaborate closely with early childhood (EC) teacher education programmes. The data were gathered from three different databases: ERIC (Ebscohost), Education Research Complete (Ebscohost) and ProQuest Central by using six different search terms. A total of 2766 publications were found. Based on the inclusion criteria, 40 publications were included in a data analysis. These publications consisted of descriptions of 53 different models regarding the collaboration between ECEC centres and universities. Two out of three models (n = 34) were university-based ECEC centres that collaborated closely with EC teacher education programmes by implementing various collaborations in education and research in their daily work. Outreach efforts were also implemented. This research invites EC teacher education programmes and ECEC centres for international collaboration and further research on this topic.

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Soni, Anita, Paul Lynch, Mike McLinden, Jenipher Mbukwa-Ngwira, Mika Mankhwazi, Emma Jolley, Bhavisha Virendrakumar, Juliet Bedford, and Ingrid Gercama. "Facilitating the Participation of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Development Centres in Malawi: Developing a Sustainable Staff Training Programme." Sustainability 12, no. 5 (March 9, 2020): 2104. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12052104.

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This article explores the development of a sustainable training programme supporting the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood, education and care (ECEC) centres in Malawi. This programme is based on a review of literature of curriculum, pedagogy and teaching approaches in ECEC in sub-Saharan Africa, alongside a review of national policy documents. The training was designed to enable staff to value the inclusion of children with disabilities in ECEC centres, as well as suggesting practical ways to do so. We set out our response to the gap in training of ECEC staff through the development of a supplementary integrated training programme, which, whilst respectful of the curriculum, policy and practice of Malawi, challenged staff to consider ways of including children with disabilities (CWD) and their families. We suggest this is a pragmatic and sustainable model that could be applied to training in other ECEC settings across the region in sub-Saharan Africa. It concludes with guiding principles for training those working in ECEC with young children with disabilities in low-income countries.

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Cohrssen, Caroline, Yvette Slaughter, and Edith Nicolas. "Leveraging Languages for Learning: Incorporating Plurilingual Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education and Care." TESOL in Context 30, no. 1 (November 30, 2021): 11–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.21153/tesol2021vol30no1art1572.

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Abstract: Children are members of families and communities, and the languages learnt within these contexts contribute to a child’s sense of “belonging, being and becoming” throughout life (Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations, 2009). Encouraging children to bring their home languages into early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings exposes all children to additional languages and supports key outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF; DEEWR, 2009). This article looks at the relationship between key tenets of the EYLF and conditions that support a plurilingual approach within ECEC settings, arguing that multilingualism can be encouraged and effectively supported within these environments. The authors outline Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory of development which continues to be influential in Australian ECEC, emphasizing the importance of proximal processes in child development. Examples are provided of educator behaviours set out in the EYLF that encourage linguistic diversity and promote language learning. The influence of three key variables on the valuing of languages is discussed, namely language ideologies, teacher beliefs and attitudes, and plurilingual pedagogies. Recommendations relating to the positive positioning of languages and the integration of plurilingual pedagogies into Australian ECEC contexts are provided.

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Cohrssen, Caroline, Yvette Slaughter, and Edith Nicolas. "Leveraging Languages for Learning: Incorporating Plurilingual Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education and Care." TESOL in Context 30, no. 1 (November 30, 2021): 11–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.21153/tesol2021vol30no1art1572.

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Abstract: Children are members of families and communities, and the languages learnt within these contexts contribute to a child’s sense of “belonging, being and becoming” throughout life (Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations, 2009). Encouraging children to bring their home languages into early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings exposes all children to additional languages and supports key outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF; DEEWR, 2009). This article looks at the relationship between key tenets of the EYLF and conditions that support a plurilingual approach within ECEC settings, arguing that multilingualism can be encouraged and effectively supported within these environments. The authors outline Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory of development which continues to be influential in Australian ECEC, emphasizing the importance of proximal processes in child development. Examples are provided of educator behaviours set out in the EYLF that encourage linguistic diversity and promote language learning. The influence of three key variables on the valuing of languages is discussed, namely language ideologies, teacher beliefs and attitudes, and plurilingual pedagogies. Recommendations relating to the positive positioning of languages and the integration of plurilingual pedagogies into Australian ECEC contexts are provided.

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Ofner, Daniela. "Language support competence and language proficiency of early years professionals in monolingual and bilingual settings: Similarities and differences." European Journal of Applied Linguistics 6, no. 2 (September 3, 2018): 255–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/eujal-2018-0002.

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AbstractEarly Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals need specific knowledge and abilities to support children’s language development: language support competence (LSC). Research has shown varying levels of LSC of the personnel in early childhood education centers. However, only early childhood educators in monolingual institutions promoting the majority language were included in these studies. The growing interest in bilingual education in early childhood in many European countries raises the question whether ECEC professionals in bilingual institutions are better qualified for language-related tasks due to the evident focus on language and multilingualism. In a cross-sectional study, LSC and language proficiency of 115 ECEC professionals in monolingual and 24 ECEC professionals in bilingual early childhood education centers in Germany were assessed with standardized tests. Participants in bilingual institutions reached higher knowledge scores but did not differ from their colleagues in monolingual institutions in their abilities or language proficiency. Correlational and regression analyses revealed that LSC is related to several personal and professional background factors such as level of education or participation in professional development courses. The results are discussed with respect to language support practices in early childhood education and possible selection processes in personnel recruitment.

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Kulic, Nevena, Jan Skopek, Moris Triventi, and Hans-Peter Blossfeld. "Social Background and Children's Cognitive Skills: The Role of Early Childhood Education and Care in a Cross-National Perspective." Annual Review of Sociology 45, no. 1 (July 30, 2019): 557–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-073018-022401.

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This review looks at the current state of research on early childhood education and care (ECEC) from a sociological stance. We summarize how children's experiences and benefits from participation in ECEC are related to their families’ socioeconomic position in modern industrial nations. By bringing together child development and intervention research from economics, education, and psychology with a sociological, social stratification perspective, our report focuses on ECEC as a policy strategy for equalization in early childhood. We argue that two major stratifiers, families and country-specific ECEC settings, need to be considered more closely when we seek to understand the efficacy of early educational interventions in modern societies. While well-targeted educational programs are found to lowerachievement gaps among children from different social backgrounds, a disproportionate use of early education by socioeconomically privileged families may offset the benefits of early interventions. In addition, the current stratification patterns in various nationwide ECEC contexts may further strengthen the gaps in children's (early) achievements.

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Lee, Wendy Saeme. "Emotional Sensibility Observation Scale: Measuring Quality Relationships and Early Childhood Educators’ Emotional Perceptibility in Responding to Children’s Cues." Education Sciences 13, no. 1 (December 21, 2022): 9. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/educsci13010009.

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An educator’s ability and willingness to be perceptive and responsive to the cues of children in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings can affect the quality of the relationships built. Although several instruments that aim to measure quality relationships currently exist, these instruments are often not exclusive to the educator–child dynamic, fail to be context-sensitive, and do not mitigate scope for observer subjectivity. The Emotional Sensibility Observation Scale (ESOS) was developed in collaboration with ECEC stakeholders (teachers, educators, centre directors, and researchers) in Australia to address the aforementioned gaps while acknowledging the unique relationships between educators and children in ECEC settings. It is proposed in the paper that the ESOS may serve as a useful tool for researchers and educators to assess Early Childhood (EC) educators’ ability to accurately read and respond to children’s cues and to measure the quality of relationships built over time.

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Bollig, Sabine. "Approaching the complex spatialities of early childhood education and care systems from the position of the child." Journal of Pedagogy 9, no. 1 (June 1, 2018): 155–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/jped-2018-0008.

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Abstract This paper proposes a way to understand what early care and education systems look like from the vantage point of the child. In other words, it aims to fuse a system perspective and a child perspective of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in a way that acknowledges children as active co-producers of ECEC landscapes. In developing this approach, I emphasize that children’s individual education and care arrangements which combine certain ECEC settings and the family are to be understood as networks of relations. As such, these child, family and ECEC relations create particular spatialities and temporalities which in turn position children very differently within the field of early education and care. To conceptualize how this takes place in children’s everyday activities, I refer to Schatzki’s and Massey’s relational thinking about practices, spaces, time and multiple identities with special emphasis on the spatial relations that are ‘beyond’ certain localities and (re)produced in the ‘events of place’. How this helps to understand the ways in which ECEC systems look from the position of the child will get exemplified in regard to Luxembourg’s complex ‘double split system’ of ECEC and its complex language terrain.

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Jones, Rachel A., Eduarda Sousa-Sá, Michele Peden, and Anthony D. Okely. "Childcare Physical Activity Interventions: A Discussion of Similarities and Differences and Trends, Issues, and Recommendations." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 23 (December 2, 2019): 4836. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234836.

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Early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings have a pivotal role in the promotion of physical activity for young children, and thus, the number of ECEC-based physical activity interventions has exponentially increased in the last two decades. The aim of this study was three-fold: (1) to discuss some of the similarities and differences in ECEC-based physical activity interventions, (2) to highlight current trends and issues in the ECEC sector relating to such interventions, and (3) to provide recommendations for future interventions. Twenty-four individual studies are discussed. Most studies have targeted children aged between 3 and 5 years and involved children participating in additional physical activity opportunities while at childcare. In all studies, educators participated in some professional development either prior or during the intervention. Less the half of the studies discussed reported significant positive changes in physical activity outcomes. Those involved in developing future interventions will need to consider current national and international trends in the ECEC sector (e.g., over-crowded curriculum, administrative requirements, and more highly-qualified educators devoting time for business development), as well as creative and unique ways of delivering ECEC-based physical activity interventions.

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Gallagher, Aisling. "E-portfolios and relational space in the early education environment." Journal of Pedagogy 9, no. 1 (June 1, 2018): 23–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/jped-2018-0002.

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Abstract This paper considers the role of eportfolios as an online tool intended to foster greater engagement between parent, teacher and child in early education settings. Drawing on New Zealand based research, I will critically examine the introduction of this technology as more than an addition into already existing ECEC services. Rather, I will highlight the generative impact it has in facilitating new kinds of relations between parents, teachers and managers, within what I term an emergent ‘virtual landscape of ECEC’. Ultimately I argue that this landscape is shaped by asymmetries of power, which allow for processes of subjectification and governing in ECEC to occur in new ways.

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Hinton, Amber, Sheila Degotardi, and Marianne Fenech. "Parental Knowledge and Use of the National Quality Framework in their Childcare Decision Making: Informed Believers, Informed Dismissers and Indifferent Disregarders." Australasian Journal of Early Childhood 42, no. 4 (December 2017): 69–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.23965/ajec.42.4.08.

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THE INTRODUCTION OF THE National Quality Framework (NQF) aimed to improve the quality of formal early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings across Australia, and enable parents to make informed childcare choices. Since this Framework was only introduced in 2012, research has yet to determine if these intended outcomes have been achieved. The impact of this policy on the choices of prospective parents is explored. Findings suggest that prospective parents' knowledge of the Framework is low and their use of NQF quality ratings to inform ECEC decision making even lower. Various influences on prospective parents' ECEC choices appeared to prevent those who knew about the ratings from using them effectively. Notwithstanding efforts to promote the NQF and quality ratings as tools for parents when choosing ECEC for their children, findings suggest that the use of these tools is highly influenced by market failures.

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Frindte, Annegret, and Johanna Mierendorff. "Bildung, Erziehung [education] and care in German early childhood settings – spotlights on current discourses." Journal of Pedagogy 8, no. 1 (August 28, 2017): 99–120. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/jped-2017-0005.

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Abstract In German there is a long tradition of institutionalized daycare center-based early education. These institutions are concerned with Bildung, Erziehung und Betreuung - the education and care of children up to six years of age. Education and childrearing as well as care are all important but separate processes in German early childhood settings. Looking back, this theoretical division has a very long tradition. However, the energized public, political and professional discussions about the PISA results at the beginning of the 21st century led to Bildung and ECEC settings becoming increasingly important. Taking into account this complex and difficult historical development it is interesting to have a critical look at the dominant programmatic frames that characterize the German ECEC system nowadays: Bildung and quality of early education. The former double motif of education (Bildung und Erziehung) on the one hand and care (Betreuung) on the other hand remains an important aspect of German ECEC practices. Nevertheless, in the political arena and professional discourses Erziehung and Betreuung have been pushed into the background, to remain in symbolic form. Bildung and quality of early education seem to be in the spotlight. We will show how those programmatic frames have taken shape and are manifested in early childhood programs and projects.

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Boyd, Wendy, Linda Mahony, Jane Warren, and Sandie Wong. "The Design of Early Childhood Teacher Education Programs: Australian Employer Perspectives with International Program Comparisons." Australian Journal of Teacher Education 47, no. 6 (June 2022): 69–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2022v47n6.5.

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Provision of quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) supports children’s learning with strong agreement that early childhood teachers (ECTs) are central to quality provision. In many countries, it is mandatory that ECEC services employ ECTs. However, Australian ECT employers report that early childhood graduates are not always well-prepared to work in ECEC settings. This may be because what constitutes optimal early childhood initial teacher education programs (EC ITE) is unclear. To investigate the design of EC ITE programs this research reports on (i) design of EC ITE programs across international contexts; and (ii) 19 Australian ECT employers’ perspectives on EC ITE program design. Findings indicate little consensus on the design of EC ITE programs, with inconsistencies across and within countries. Australian employers identified shortcomings in graduates knowledge. This research highlights recommendations to understand how programs prepare ECTs, by conducting research tracking preservice teachers from EC ITE programs into ECEC teaching.

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Askell-Williams, Helen, and Rosalind Murray-Harvey. "Did that Professional Education about Mental Health Promotion Make Any Difference? Early Childhood Educators’ Reflections upon Changes in Their Knowledge and Practices." Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling 23, no. 2 (September 20, 2013): 201–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jgc.2013.19.

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Educators are at the heart of educational reforms, such as the introduction of mental health promotion initiatives into early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. Good quality implementation of reforms requires educators to engage in high quality professional learning: If educators have not had opportunities to gain appropriate knowledge and expertise, new initiatives may be poorly implemented and may consequently achieve limited outcomes. This article reports ECEC educators’ perspectives about the impact on their knowledge and practices of the professional education component of the KidsMatter mental health promotion initiative. Educators from 111 ECEC services across Australia contributed a range of types of data, including questionnaires about their knowledge and self-efficacy, feedback about each professional education session, and photo stories about their changed professional practices. Participants indicated that their professional learning led to changed practices in areas such as interpreting children's behaviours, interacting with children, approaching parents, and collaborating with colleagues. Participants’ photo stories illustrate how professional education that focuses on content, active learning, coherence, and collaboration can positively influence knowledge and practices. However, if such gains are to last beyond relatively highly resourced start-up phases of initiatives, professional education needs to integrate with, and draw from, the ongoing availability of other professionals such as guidance and counselling staff, who have complementary knowledge and expertise; be recognised and embedded as a core component of ECEC educators’ roles and their workplace practices; and be culturally and contextually situated. Staff accounts of the impact of their professional learning on their practices can highlight to policy-makers the practical outcomes of strong investments in professional education. Awareness by other professions of the affordances and constraints faced by ECEC educators may contribute to interdisciplinary synergies among the range of professions involved in mental health promotion in educational settings.

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Lafave, Lynne M. Z., Alexis D. Webster, Ceilidh McConnell, Nadine Van Wyk, and Mark R. Lafave. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Eating Environments and Activity in Early Childhood Education and Care in Alberta, Canada: A Cross-Sectional Study." Nutrients 13, no. 12 (November 26, 2021): 4247. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu13124247.

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Early childhood education and care (ECEC) environments influence children’s early development and habits that track across a lifespan. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 government-mandated guidelines on physical activity (PA) and eating environments in ECEC settings. This cross-sectional study involved the recruitment of 19 ECEC centers pre-COVID (2019) and 15 ECEC centers during COVID (2020) in Alberta, Canada (n = 34 ECEC centers; n = 83 educators; n = 361 preschoolers). Educators completed the CHEERS (Creating Healthy Eating and activity Environments Survey) and MEQ (Mindful Eating Questionnaire) self-audit tools while GT3X+ ActiGraph accelerometers measured preschooler PA. The CHEERS healthy eating environment subscale was greater during COVID-19 (5.97 ± 0.52; 5.80 ± 0.62; p = 0.02) and the overall score positively correlated with the MEQ score (r = 0.20; p = 0.002). Preschoolers exhibited greater hourly step counts (800 ± 189; 649 ± 185), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (9.3 ± 3.0 min/h; 7.9 ± 3.2 min/h) and lower sedentary times (42.4 ± 3.9 min/h; 44.1 ± 4.9 min/h) during COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID, respectively (p < 0.05). These findings suggest the eating environment and indices of child physical activity were better in 2020, which could possibly be attributed to a change in government-mandated COVID-19 guideline policy.

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Harrison, Cathie, and Sarah Heinrich Joerdens. "The Combined Bachelor of Education Early Childhood and Primary Degree: Student Perceptions of Value." Australasian Journal of Early Childhood 42, no. 1 (March 2017): 4–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.23965/ajec.42.1.01.

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THE FIELD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD education and care (ECEC) in Australia is a highly dynamic one. Increased government interest and funding during the years of the Labor Governments from 2008–2012 strengthened the sector in terms of increased funding, policy development, level of staff qualification and measures of quality. While this support resulted in increased numbers of children enrolled in ECEC settings and greater numbers of students enrolled in early childhood teacher education degrees, it also contributed to increased workforce pressures and a shortage of qualified early childhood teachers. In this paper we report on a quantitative study that investigated the nature of student experience in a combined Bachelor of Education Early Childhood and Primary degree, and student perceptions of value. The results of the study indicate positive responses to the inclusion of both early childhood and primary content and professional experience undertaken in both prior to school and school settings.

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Ng, Michelle, Michael Rosenberg, Ashleigh Thornton, Leanne Lester, Stewart G. Trost, Pulan Bai, and Hayley Christian. "The Effect of Upgrades to Childcare Outdoor Spaces on Preschoolers’ Physical Activity: Findings from a Natural Experiment." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 2 (January 10, 2020): 468. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020468.

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Physical inactivity is a significant risk factor for childhood obesity. Preventing obesity in the early years reduces the risk of developing chronic health conditions later. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are important settings to establish good preschooler physical activity behaviors. This natural experiment investigated the influence of ECEC outdoor physical environment upgrade on preschoolers’ physical activity (aged 2–5 years). Centers implemented upgrades without researcher input. Physical activity was measured by 7-day accelerometry for intervention (n = 159; 6 centers) and control (n = 138; 5 centers) groups. ECEC outdoor space was assessed using a modified Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) Instrument. Key outcomes were measured at baseline and 6–12 months follow-up. Fixed sandboxes, balls, portable slides, portable floor play equipment (e.g., tumbling mats), and natural grassed areas were positively associated with activity levels; fixed tunnels and twirling equipment were negatively associated with activity levels (all p < 0.05). Post-upgrade portable play equipment (balls, twirling equipment, slides, floor play equipment) increased intervention preschoolers’ moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels compared to control (p < 0.05). Intervention preschoolers were more active than control at follow-up (58.09 vs. 42.13 min/day increase in total physical activity; 30.46 vs. 19.16 min/day increase in MVPA (all p < 0.001)). Since few preschoolers meet daily activity recommendations while at ECEC, the findings may help ECEC providers to optimize outdoor physical environments and encourage more active play among preschoolers.

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Hogrebe, Nina, Anna Pomykaj, and Stefan Schulder. "Segregation in Early Childhood Education and Care in Germany: Insights on Regional Distribution Patterns Using National Educational Studies." Soziale Ungleichheit in der Kindertagesbetreuung 16, no. 1-2021 (March 17, 2021): 36–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.3224/diskurs.v16i1.04.

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Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is believed to contribute to educational equality and to serve social inclusion and democracy. Segregation in day-care centres counteracts these aims but has hardly been researched in Germany so far. We describe ethnic/linguistic and social segregation at different regional levels (federal states as well as East and West Germany more generally) using data from the Early Childhood Education and Care Quality Study in the Socio-Economic Panel (K2ID-SOEP) and the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). We find pronounced differences in distribution patterns of ECEC settings’ composition especially between West and East Germany and discuss the research implications of our findings.

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Christopher, Vicki, Michelle Turner, and Nicole C. Green. "Educator Perceptions of Early Learning Environments as Places for Privileging Social Justice in Rural and Remote Communities." Education Sciences 12, no. 1 (January 10, 2022): 40. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/educsci12010040.

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Early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Australia has long been associated with the concept of social justice, however, a clear understanding of what it looks like across diverse services and communities is not available. This article reports the process of inquiry, as well as the outcomes, of a small-scale study designed to uncover the perceptions of ECEC educators working in rural and remote communities in the state of Queensland. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with five educators from rural and remote settings identified as areas experiencing significant growth in population diversity. An initial thematic analysis of the data revealed three key themes. A secondary analysis using a place and space conceptual framework uncovered deeper, more sophisticated meanings of the educator experience of social justice. The research is important in bringing pedagogical conversations to the forefront regarding ECEC educator perceptions of their role in creating a socially just learning environment. In addition to identifying future research possibilities, implications from the findings indicate opportunities for re-examining and rethinking initial teacher education and ongoing professional learning.

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Maitland, Clover, Leanne Lester, Stewart G. Trost, Michael Rosenberg, Jasper Schipperijn, Georgina Trapp, Pulan Bai, and Hayley Christian. "The Influence of the Early Childhood Education and Care Environment on Young Children’s Physical Activity: Development and Reliability of the PLAYCE Study Environmental Audit and Educator Survey." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 7 (April 6, 2020): 2497. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072497.

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(1) Background: Participation in physical activity is crucial for the healthy growth and development of young children. More robust measurement of environmental influences on children’s physical activity in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings may help resolve inconsistencies in the literature. This study evaluated the reliability of an environmental audit and educator practice survey for assessing ECEC physical, policy, and social environments related to young children’s physical activity. (2) Methods: A convenience sample of 20 ECEC centres participated in this PLAYCE (Play Spaces and Environments for Children’s Physical Activity) sub-study. Trained auditors conducted audits and educators completed surveys, two weeks apart. Test-retest reliability of the survey (n = 32), inter-rater (n = 20 pairs) and intra-rater reliability (n = 38) of the audit was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), Kappa statistics and percent agreement. (3) Results: Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability ICCs for outdoor equipment, spaces and features were good to excellent (ICC = 0.70–0.94), while ratings for indoor equipment, media and spaces varied from fair to excellent (ICC = 0.46–0.78). The majority of items were rated by Kappa as moderate or above for intra-rater, inter-rater and survey test-retest reliability. (4) Conclusions: The PLAYCE Study instruments provide reliable measures of ECEC physical activity environments which can help to better understand influences on young children’s physical activity.

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Migliorini, Laura, Nadia Rania, and Tatiana Tassara. "An ecological perspective on early years workforce competences in Italian ECEC settings." Early Years 36, no. 2 (February 19, 2016): 165–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2015.1115389.

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Rapson, Jeanette, Cathryn Conlon, and Ajmol Ali. "Nutrition Knowledge and Perspectives of Physical Activity for Pre-Schoolers amongst Early Childhood Education and Care Teachers." Nutrients 12, no. 7 (July 3, 2020): 1984. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu12071984.

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Caregivers’ nutrition and physical activity knowledge is recognised as being important for children’s health and body size. Identifying knowledge gaps amongst caregivers may inform professional development and obesity-prevention strategies in childcare settings. This cross-sectional validated online questionnaire aimed to measure current early childhood education and care (ECEC) teachers’ nutrition knowledge for pre-schoolers (2–5-year-olds) and related perspectives. Teachers’ (n = 386) knowledge of nutrition was lacking: The overall score was 22.56 ± 2.83 (mean ± SD), or 61% correct. Increased years of experience significantly predicted an increase in knowing that national nutrition and physical activity guidelines exist (B = 0.02 [95% CI, 0.00–0.03], r2 = 0.13, p = 0.033). Teachers’ increased agreement in feeling they were confident talking about nutrition to parents significantly predicted an increase in overall nutrition knowledge scores (B = 0.34 [95% CI, 0.06–0.63], r2 = 0.15, p = 0.019). The belief that ECEC teachers play a vital role in promoting pre-schoolers’ healthy eating and physical activity was widespread. Common knowledge barriers included a lack of staff training, confidence, and resources. ECEC teachers may lack nutrition knowledge for pre-schoolers, particularly in regard to basic nutrition recommendations (servings, food/beverage choices, and portion sizes).

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Corr, Lara, Kay Cook, Anthony D. LaMontagne, Elise Davis, and Elizabeth Waters. "Early Childhood Educator Mental Health: Performing the National Quality Standard." Australasian Journal of Early Childhood 42, no. 4 (December 2017): 97–105. http://dx.doi.org/10.23965/ajec.42.4.11.

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IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION and care (ECEC) settings, the mental wellbeing of educators is likely to be crucial to delivering high-quality care. Hence, this paper uses a contextual understanding of educators' mental health, and its evaluation by both educators and management, to reveal areas of the National Quality Framework that require critical revision. Drawing on Hochschild's (2012) theory of emotional labour, we report on the analysis of semi-structured interviews with family day care educators (n = 16) and ECEC sector key informants (n = 18). Results demonstrate widespread belief that educator mental wellbeing affects care quality and the children attending care. In response to job stressors and perceived surveillance, educators use emotional labour to hide negative feelings and manage risks associated with low mental wellbeing. In this context, making individual educators fully responsible for performing good mental health to meet the National Quality Standard may increase job stress and emotional labour, further distancing the aims of high-quality care. Our findings suggest that revising the NQS to improve working conditions, and addressing educator mental wellbeing are essential approaches for supporting high-quality ECEC practice.

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조성연. "The meanings of play in early childhood educational settings expressed in young children’s drawings." EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & CARE 9, no. 4 (October 2014): 85–107. http://dx.doi.org/10.16978/ecec.2014.9.4.004.

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Knaus, Marianne. "Supporting Early Mathematics Learning in Early Childhood Settings." Australasian Journal of Early Childhood 42, no. 3 (September 2017): 4–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.23965/ajec.42.3.01.

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DESPITE A GROWING BODY of research that demonstrates young children have the capacity to learn mathematical concepts, early childhood educators are still strongly influenced by dated ideas that mathematics education should be delayed until formal schooling. Such attitudes are contributing to Australia's poor rating of young children's mathematics skills as compared to other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Negative perceptions about mathematics as well as a lack of knowledge of curriculum content and pedagogy are major factors limiting mathematics experiences in the early years. This project employed a multi-site case study approach to investigate the teaching of mathematics in early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres and the impact of a professional development intervention on the type and frequency of mathematics experiences for children before starting formal schooling.

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Elford, Audrey, Cherice Gwee, Maliney Veal, Rati Jani, Ros Sambell, Shabnam Kashef, and Penelope Love. "Identification and Evaluation of Tools Utilised for Measuring Food Provision in Childcare Centres and Primary Schools: A Systematic Review." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 7 (March 30, 2022): 4096. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074096.

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Background: Children aged 2–11 years spend significant hours per week in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and primary schools. Whilst considered important environments to influence children’s food intake, there is heterogeneity in the tools utilised to assess food provision in these settings. This systematic review aimed to identify and evaluate tools used to measure food provision in ECEC and primary schools. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) was followed. Publications (2003–2020) that implemented, validated, or developed measurement tools to assess food provision within ECEC or primary schools were included. Two reviewers extracted and evaluated studies, cross checked by a third reviewer and verified by all authors. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Criteria Checklist (QCC) was used to critically appraise each study. Results: Eighty-two studies were included in the review. Seven measurement tools were identified, namely, Menu review; Observation; Weighed food protocol; Questionnaire/survey; Digital photography; Quick menu audit; and Web-based menu assessment. An evidence-based evaluation was conducted for each tool. Conclusions: The weighed food protocol was found to be the most popular and accurate measurement tool to assess individual-level intake. Future research is recommended to develop and validate a tool to assess service-level food provision.

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Sando, Ole Johan. "The physical indoor environment in ECEC settings: children’s well-being and physical activity." European Early Childhood Education Research Journal 27, no. 4 (June 27, 2019): 506–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1350293x.2019.1634238.

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Pollock, Krista, Jane Warren, and Peter Andersen. "Inspiring Environmentally Responsible Preschool Children through the Implementation of the National Quality Framework: Uncovering what Lies between Theory and Practice." Australasian Journal of Early Childhood 42, no. 2 (June 2017): 12–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.23965/ajec.42.2.02.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR environmental sustainability (ECEfES) has become significant in the early years, as highlighted by the inclusion of ECEfES in Australia's first and current National Quality Framework (NQF) for early childhood education and care (ECEC). This article reports on the major findings from a case study (Pollock, 2014), which aimed to uncover what lies between theory and practice, as ECEC educators attempt to support young children to become environmentally responsible, through the implementation of the NQF. This article discusses some of the findings from an analysis of the documents central to the NQF as well as semi-structured interviews with three university-qualified educators. Thematic analysis revealed that although challenging educators in some respects, the introduction of the NQF has enhanced their sustainability practices. This has emphasised the importance of listening to the voices of young children, a ‘whole of settings' approach, and engaging in reflection.

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Murphy, Victoria, J. Karemaker, K. Sylva, G. Kanji, and F. Jelley. "Effective intervention to support oral language skills in English as an additional language in the early years." TEANGA, the Journal of the Irish Association for Applied Linguistics 10 (March 6, 2019): 1–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.35903/teanga.v10i0.67.

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Increasingly, children enter Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings with English as an additional language (EAL) and for many of these linguistically diverse children, their knowledge and skills in the English language is less-well developed than native-speaking (NS) peers. Much research over the past few decades has indicated how important early language and emergent literacy development is within ECEC settings, as children’s skills in these domains underpins later literacy development and academic achievement. Furthermore, many children from linguistically diverse backgrounds tend to have less well-developed vocabulary knowledge and struggle with aspects of literacy later on. In this paper we present the findings of a Professional Development (PD) intervention study aimed at helping teachers to develop and implement effective strategies that support oral language skills in both EAL and NS pupils. We discuss these findings in relation to two other oral language interventions where the focus was on working directly with pupils. We argue that whereas evidence suggests interventions working directly with pupils can be more effective on improved child language outcomes, we need to focus more energy on developing good PD for Early Years Practitioners to support them in their critical roles in children’s educational development.

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Hook, Jennifer L., and Eunjeong Paek. "National Family Policies and Mothers’ Employment: How Earnings Inequality Shapes Policy Effects across and within Countries." American Sociological Review 85, no. 3 (June 2020): 381–416. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0003122420922505.

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Although researchers generally agree that national family policies play a role in shaping mothers’ employment, there is considerable debate about whether, how, and why policy effects vary across country contexts and within countries by mothers’ educational attainment. We hypothesize that family policies interact with national levels of earnings inequality to differentially affect mothers’ employment outcomes by educational attainment. We develop hypotheses about the two most commonly studied family policies—early childhood education and care (ECEC) and paid parental leave. We test these hypotheses by establishing a novel linkage between the EU-Labour Force Survey and the Current Population Survey 1999 to 2016 ( n = 23 countries, 299 country-years, 1.2 million mothers of young children), combined with an original collection of country-year indicators. Using multilevel models, we find that ECEC spending is associated with a greater likelihood of maternal employment, but the association is strongest for non-college-educated mothers in high-inequality settings. The length of paid parental leave over six months is generally associated with a lower likelihood of maternal employment, but the association is most pronounced for mothers in high-inequality settings. We call for greater attention to the role of earnings inequality in shaping mothers’ employment and conditioning policy effects.

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Toussaint, Nicole, Martinette T. Streppel, Sandra Mul, Ruben G. Fukkink, Peter J. M. Weijs, and Mirka Janssen. "The Effects of the PLAYTOD Program on Children’s Physical Activity at Preschool Playgrounds in a Deprived Urban Area: A Randomized Controlled Trial." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 1 (January 3, 2020): 329. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010329.

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Interventions to improve children’s physical activity in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings are needed. This randomized controlled trial examines the effects of a preschool-based playground program for ECEC teachers in a deprived urban area. On intervention preschools, the PLAYgrounds for TODdlers program (PLAYTOD) was performed. It focused on teacher’s knowledge and skills in order to create a challenging outdoor environment in which young children (2.5 to 4 years old) are able to practice their motor skills. Observations were performed before and after the program with a modified version of the SOPLAY protocol. The activating role of teachers (score from 0 = inactive to 4 = participating), the number of different physical activities, and the quality of children’s physical activity on playgrounds were observed. The latter included the number of performed fundamental movement skills and the estimated physical activity intensity (score from 0 = sedentary to 3 = vigorous). Descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the effects of PLAYTOD. After the program, the activating role of teachers on intervention playgrounds improved. Moreover, the program and consecutively the changes made by teachers had a positive effect on the number of different activities and the quality of children’s physical activity. The results emphasize an important role for ECEC teachers in improving physical activity in young children.

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Blewitt, Claire, Heather Morris, Kylie Jackson, Helen Barrett, Heidi Bergmeier, Amanda O’Connor, Aya Mousa, Andrea Nolan, and Helen Skouteris. "Integrating Health and Educational Perspectives to Promote Preschoolers’ Social and Emotional Learning: Development of a Multi-Faceted Program Using an Intervention Mapping Approach." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 2 (January 16, 2020): 575. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020575.

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High-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) can strengthen the social and emotional skills that are crucial for children’s ongoing development. With research highlighting an increasing prevalence of emotional and behavioural challenges in young children, there is emphasis on embedding teaching practices and pedagogies to support social and emotional skills within early learning programs. A growing body of research has examined the impact of social and emotional learning programs in ECEC; however, few studies describe the intervention development process, or how educators and other professionals were engaged to increase the relevance and feasibility of the program. The current paper describes the development of the Cheshire Social-Emotional Engagement and Development (SEED) Educational Program, an online learning tool to support early childhood educators to foster children’s positive mental health. Cheshire SEED was designed using five steps of the Intervention Mapping methodology: (i) comprehensive needs assessment to create a logic model of the problem; (ii) creation of program outcomes and change objectives mapped against determinants of educator behaviour; (iii) co-design of theory-based methods and practical strategies; (iv) program development; and (v) adoption and implementation planning. The process and decisions at each step of the IM protocol are presented, and the strengths and limitations of the approach to develop a mental health intervention for ECEC settings are discussed.

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Zabatiero, Juliana, Leon Straker, Ana Mantilla, Susan Edwards, and Susan Danby. "Young Children and Digital Technology: Australian Early Childhood Education and Care Sector Adults’ Perspectives." Australasian Journal of Early Childhood 43, no. 2 (June 2018): 14–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.23965/ajec.43.2.02.

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THIS PAPER REPORTS ON the findings of a sector-wide survey conducted as part of a multi-component process in Early Childhood Australia's development of a national Statement on young children and digital technology for those working within early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. The survey sought broad comment and feedback from the Australian ECEC sector regarding adult perspectives on young children and digital technology. The cross-sectional online survey included 12 Likert scale items and three open-ended questions. Five hundred and fifteen participants representing various roles, ages and locations completed the survey. Findings suggest the sector holds diverse and complex perspectives, including appreciation for the learning and teaching opportunities afforded via technology, and concerns for children's health and digital citizenship. Findings also highlight the need for evidence-based practices and sector-wide support in the pedagogical use of technology that enhances children's physical, emotional and social health and development.

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Cadima, Joana. "QualityMatters: How and under what conditions does quality in early education and care matter? A study across four European countries." Nauki o Wychowaniu. Studia Interdyscyplinarne 5, no. 2 (December 30, 2017): 190–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.18778/2450-4491.05.13.

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QualityMatters, an extension of a European Commission funded study, the CARE project, intends to examine whether the quality of teacher-child interactions varies as a function of particular classroom features (e.g., types of activities, content, and grouping), to answer the overarching question: how and under what conditions does quality in early education and care matter? Through a cross-cultural process-oriented approach, the researchers in QualityMatters will capitalize on the variation in the ECEC systems present in 4 European countries (Finland, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal) to examine the complex relations of teachers’ choices regarding the activity and teacher-child interactions. The project will examine the extent to which children’s classroom interactions with teachers vary across activity settings, while taking into consideration country specifications regarding structural regulations. While much of the ECEC research has examined process and structural quality as separated constructs, QualityMatters will look at aspects at the intersection of process and structure, likely to be relevant for child development and learning.

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Klages, Wiebke, Magritt Lundestad, and Paul Robert Sundar. "Mentoring of newly qualified teachers in early childhood education and care centres." International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education 9, no. 1 (December 13, 2019): 103–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijmce-02-2019-0040.

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss contrasting perceptions regarding “leadership and mentoring” among leaders of Norwegian early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres in their mentoring practices with newly qualified early childhood teachers (NQTs). Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with eight leaders in Norwegian ECEC centres. Findings Leaders in dual roles as leaders and mentors have varying orientations in mentoring NQTs. The paper presents the findings as two main orientations: an individual and an organizational orientation. Individually oriented leaders as mentors focus on individual needs and support of the NQT. Organizationally oriented leaders as mentors emphasize collective reflection and learning in the staff group and include NQTs in various learning processes in the ECEC centre. Research limitations/implications The study is a qualitative research inquiry in a specific context and may not be representative for larger groups. Further studies could include larger samples of leaders and NQTs. Such studies could focus on the balance between NQTs’ individual needs and organizational needs, and how NQTs are included in the organization’s collective reflection and action. Practical implications The study provides insights into how leaders as mentors in their dual roles try to meet both the needs of the individual NQT and the needs of the organization. It also identifies and highlights some of the challenges that leaders must cope with in their dual roles. The paper benefits those working in such dual roles and in the education of mentors and leaders. Originality/value The study contributes to increased knowledge on how leaders’ views on leadership and organization influence their mentoring with NQTs. The study is relevant for leaders in other educational settings such as schools. In ECEC centres, the leader is responsible for mentoring NQTs and other staff members. This study shows different ways of conceptualizing mentoring with NQTs in the role as leader.

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Bove, Chiara, and Nima Sharmahd. "Beyond invisibility. Welcoming children and families with migrant and refugee background in ECEC settings." European Early Childhood Education Research Journal 28, no. 1 (January 2, 2020): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1350293x.2020.1707940.

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Barnes, Courtney, Sze Lin Yoong, Nicole Nathan, Luke Wolfenden, Taya Wedesweiler, Jayde Kerr, Dianne S. Ward, and Alice Grady. "Feasibility of a Web-Based Implementation Intervention to Improve Child Dietary Intake in Early Childhood Education and Care: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial." Journal of Medical Internet Research 23, no. 12 (December 15, 2021): e25902. http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/25902.

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Background Internationally, the implementation of evidence-based healthy eating policies and practices within early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings that encourage children’s healthy diet is recommended. Despite the existence of evidence-based healthy eating practices, research indicates that current implementation rates are inadequate. Web-based approaches provide a potentially effective and less costly approach to support ECEC staff with implementing nutrition policies and practices. Objective The broad aim of this pilot randomized controlled trial is to assess the feasibility of assessing the impact of a web-based program together with health promotion officer (HPO) support on ECEC center implementation of healthy eating policies and practices. Specifically, we seek to describe the completion rate of study evaluation processes (participant consent and data collection rates); examine ECEC center uptake, acceptability, and appropriateness of the intervention and implementation strategies; understand the potential cost of delivering and receiving implementation support strategies; and describe the potential impact of the web-based intervention on the implementation of targeted healthy eating practices among centers in the intervention group. Methods A 6-month pilot implementation trial using a cluster-randomized controlled trial design was conducted in 22 ECEC centers within the Hunter New England region of New South Wales, Australia. Potentially eligible centers were distributed a recruitment package and telephoned by the research team to assess eligibility and obtain consent. Centers randomly allocated to the intervention group received access to a web-based program, together with HPO support (eg, educational outreach visit and local technical assistance) to implement 5 healthy eating practices. The web-based program incorporated audit with feedback, development of formal implementation blueprints, and educational materials to facilitate improvement in implementation. The centers allocated to the control group received the usual care. Results Of the 57 centers approached for the study, 22 (47%) provided consent to participate. Data collection components were completed by 100% (22/22) of the centers. High uptake for implementation strategies provided by HPOs (10/11, 91% to 11/11, 100%) and the web-based program (11/11, 100%) was observed. At follow-up, intervention centers had logged on to the program at an average of 5.18 (SD 2.52) times. The web-based program and implementation support strategies were highly acceptable (10/11, 91% to 11/11, 100%). Implementation of 4 healthy eating practices improved in the intervention group, ranging from 19% (2/11) to 64% (7/11). Conclusions This study provides promising pilot data to warrant the conduct of a fully powered implementation trial to assess the impact of the program on ECEC healthy eating practice implementation. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12619001158156; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=378099 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/s40814-020-00707-w

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Pauker, Sharon, Michal Perlman, Heather Prime, and Jennifer Jenkins. "Caregiver cognitive sensitivity: Measure development and validation in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings." Early Childhood Research Quarterly 45 (2018): 45–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2018.05.001.

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Simpson, Donald, Eunice Lumsden, and Rory McDowall Clark. "Pre-school practitioners, child poverty and social justice." International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 35, no. 5/6 (June 8, 2015): 325–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijssp-10-2013-0101.

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Purpose – Several ideas exist about social justice and how inequalities can be tackled to help families and children in poverty. The Coalition government released the UK’s first Child Poverty Strategy in 2011. Pervaded by neoliberal ideology, the strategy mentions “empowering” pre-school services and practitioners within the childcare market “to do more for the most disadvantaged” (Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department for Education (DfE) 2011, p. 35). The purpose of this paper is to bring to light how Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) practitioners across England have engaged with policy discussions and adopted expectations concerning their place in addressing child poverty. Design/methodology/approach – Using a phenomenological qualitative research design the paper draws upon 30 interviews with pre-school practitioners in three geographic areas of England. All interviewees worked with families and children in poverty and were senior ECEC practitioners within their pre-school settings. Findings – Many interviewees shared the Coalition’s construction of child poverty as a problem of “troubled” parenting. These views pervaded their interaction with parents and intersected with the regulatory influence of “policy technologies” to influence their practice within a context of austerity cuts. This limited practitioners’ poverty sensitivity and their promotion of social justice. Therefore this paper concludes by critiquing the contribution which ECEC practitioners can make to addressing child poverty. Practical implications – The findings suggest there may be a need for poverty proofing toolkits in the pre-school sector. Originality/value – This paper provides a rare insight into how pre-school practitioners have engaged with, adopted and adapted assumptions about their role within policy discussion over child poverty and the promotion of social justice.

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Josephidou, Jo, Nicola Kemp, and Ian Durrant. "Outdoor provision for babies and toddlers: exploring the practice/policy/research nexus in English ECEC settings." European Early Childhood Education Research Journal 29, no. 6 (October 6, 2021): 925–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1350293x.2021.1985555.

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Sanchez Caro, Carmen María. "Positive Discrimination Policies and Indigenous-Based ECEC Services in Bogota, Colombia." Social Sciences 8, no. 2 (January 28, 2019): 39. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/socsci8020039.

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This article aims to present a few tensions and contradictions when implementing children’s rights using the case of three Casas de Pensamiento Indígena (CPI)—indigenous childcare services—in Bogotá. It questions global policies and local interpretations of early childhood education. Its main purpose is to find insights on what it means to attend to young children from minority groups. Could early childhood education and care (ECEC) services be reduced to ethnic backgrounds? In the struggle to deal with global, local, and community discourses, policy makers see positive discrimination not only as a way to justify their actions and their policies but also as a way to respond to the question of equity and diversity, regardless of equality. Therefore, this article highlights this discussion on positive discrimination as a way to intensify social inequality or reproduce inequalities at another level with a different name. Rancière’s dissertation on politics (Rancière 1998) and on the different meanings of politics and politique is used to understand the subtle relationship between equity and diversity. Considering all of this, it was decided to do fieldwork to comprehend the daily lives of CPI settings and the complexity of their formalization/institutionalization. The study highlights how CPI both differs from and is part of conventional services, and how indigenous caregivers and children face an institutional script that asks them to perform indigenism.

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Brėdikytė, Milda, Agnė Brandišauskienė, and Giedrė Sujetaitė - Volungevičienė. "The Dynamics of Pretend Play Development in Early Childhood." Pedagogika 118, no. 2 (June 10, 2015): 174–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.15823/p.2015.013.

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The phenomenon of play is constantly raising many questions for researchers and practitioners. Why play important, what kind of play is should be promoted in kindergarten classrooms, should it be supported and how? This article provides a short analysis on the concept of play and introduces an investigation aimed at analyzing the dynamics of the development of children’s pretend play in early childhood settings. This research is performed within the framework of Cultural-Historical theory of play. The development of children’s pretend play in ECEC groups will be discussed; gender differences and the level of pretend play within different age groups of children will be analyzed.

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Wysłowska, Olga. "Developmental and educational goals of early childhood education and care – perspective of Warsaw caregivers." Nauki o Wychowaniu. Studia Interdyscyplinarne 5, no. 2 (December 30, 2017): 101–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.18778/2450-4491.05.07.

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The following inquiry aims at exploring the beliefs of caregivers from the Public Crèche Network in Warsaw, the biggest network of this type in Poland, on the importance of fostering different developmental and educational goals in the youngest children. The participating caregivers (N = 449) completed a structured, Internet-based questionnaire on the significance of supporting the development of social, cognitive, physical, emotional and personal goals of 0–3-year-olds in early childhood settings. Also, information on practitioners’ educational background and work experience was collected to investigate whether their beliefs differed depending on these background characteristics. The results revealed no associations between the caregivers’ beliefs and their formal pre-service training (higher education diploma vs none or vocational training) or their work experience (5 years or less experience of work in early childhood settings vs over 5 years of work in the ECEC sector). The findings of the study are discussed with regard to the Polish legal context and potential practical implications.

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Skrzypczak, Marta. "The problem of children’s right to participation in early childhood education and care." Society Register 6, no. 1 (March 8, 2022): 85–106. http://dx.doi.org/10.14746/sr.2022.6.1.05.

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Abstract:

Participation, a highly debated topic, is understood as a right to self-determination and a right to be involved in the decision-making in matters that concern one’s life. Also, in the field of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in Germany, children’s participation plays an important role, embedded in the legislation. However, research shows that children still do not participate in decisions in their daily life in childcare facilities. This problem has been linked to the negative attitudes of early childhood educators, their fear of losing control, sharing power with children, or even lack of knowledge. The recent qualitative case study, examining educators’ participation perspectives by applying semi-structured interviews and a focus group, demonstrated that educators understand what participation means differently and view it as a concept rather than a right. However, they perceive it as having enormous importance and are keen to embrace it. Their attitudes depend significantly on their experiences and the behavioural scripts they internalized. Another factor influencing children’s participation is the organizational culture of a childcare facility. It is correlated with the quality of care in childcare settings. To this end, studying and ensuring positive work relationships proves to be necessary. Applying collaborative leadership and democratic, participatory structures is essential to children and adults alike. A genuinely respectful environment designed to promote self-determination, deep reflection, ongoing training, and support are key in realizing children’s right to participation in ECEC.

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Kingston, Denise, and Iram Siraj. "Supporting the Implementation of the Foundation Phase through Effective Professional Development." Cylchgrawn Addysg Cymru / Wales Journal of Education 19, no. 1 (March 1, 2017): 39–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.16922/wje.19.1.3.

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There is a growing evidence base linked to high quality and effective practice which supports and enhances children's outcomes (socio-emotional and cognitive development) in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC, 0–8 year olds). It includes the recognition of important aspects of quality, its measurement and the characteristics of effective educators. More specifically, new understandings about the practices and pedagogies which make a real difference to children's outcomes are emerging, including the importance of relational and intentional pedagogies and the educators' engagement with and promotion of sustained shared thinking (SST) within their classrooms/settings. The extant literature, together with a growing but still developing discourse around effective professional development (PD), could usefully inform future directions within the sector in Wales, and support the successful implementation of the Foundation Phase (3–7 year olds).

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Journal articles on the topic 'ECEC settings'

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