2022
Extension of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) (Ausbau der Kinderbetreuungseinrichtungen)
Regulation and legislative documents
Status: Agreement concerning 2022/23-2026/27
Sources:
Description:
The main focus of these expansion efforts is on child care offerings for children under 3 years of age, promoting qualified child-minder offerings, and extending opening times during the year. Childcare places for 3 to 6-year-olds will also be funded in order to close regional gaps in childcare.
Measures:
Expansion of elementary educational opportunities for children under three years of age
Maintaining the current one-year compulsory attendance in the last year before starting school
- Improving the quality of education in elementary educational institutions
- Intensification of early language support
- Improve the quality and standardize the qualifications of professionals.
Objectives:
To strengthen elementary educational institutions in their role as the first educational institution in a child's life
Improving the compatibility of family and work and, in connection with this, gender equality
Providing needs-based, year-round, all-day care for children until they start school that at least meets the Barcelona targets (care rate of 33% for under-threes and at least 90% for three- to six-year-olds) and can be reconciled with full-time employment for parents.
Improving educational opportunities for children regardless of their socioeconomic background through preschool promotion
Increased early language support in suitable elementary educational institutions.
Expected impact:
Promote the availability of childcare facilities of good quality.
Amount of funding:
Annual federal budget: EUR 200 million, additional annual budget: EUR 63 million by the regions
Monitoring:
The respective regional governments are responsible for monitoring compliance with the statutory obligations and supervising the staff and materials used in public kindergartens (nursing schools), which includes, among other things, a kindergarten inspectorate.
Involved bodies:
- Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research
- Austrian Federal Minister for Women, Families, Youth and Integration
- Regional governments
- Municipalities
- Private providers