The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security set up a working group whose mission was to produce a guideline document for the development of children's pedagogical activity in creches.

The outcome, the Pedagogical Guidelines for Creches (PGC), is a key document for pre-primary teachers and is based on a set of foundations and principles of early childhood pedagogy. Such information supports teaching, in conjunction with educational teams, leaders, families, as well as various professionals and political players whose coordinated action provides quality education and care for children up to the age of three. The PGC deepens the idea of education from zero to six years of age as. It is seen as an integrated stage that seeks to dovetail with the Curricular Guidelines for Pre-Primary Education (CGPPE), while safeguarding the specific characteristics of education and care for children up to 3 years of age. To this end, these guidelines adopt a holistic approach, viewing the child as both competent and keen to participate.

After an initial consultation process with specialists in early childhood education from different areas of knowledge and experience (May 2023), the public consultation regarding this document took place between 16 January and 16 February 2024. This was done to encourage broad reflection and enhance the participation of society in general. This process ended and now the final version of the PGC is in preparation. 

For more information: https://area.dge.mec.pt/OPCreche/OPC.pdf  

Source: Eurydice Unit Portugal