Eurydice

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a basic right for all children and a foundation for lifelong learning. It plays a critical role in reducing inequalities and enhancing women’s participation in the workforce. This third edition of Key data on early childhood education and care in Europe aims to help build accessible, inclusive and high-quality ECEC systems by providing policymakers, researchers and parents with detailed data and examples of ECEC policies across Europe.

This report explores a few main aspects of the situation in Europe regarding the right to affordable early childhood education and care (ECEC) of good quality for all children. It reveals large variations between European countries regarding the public commitment to provide a place in ECEC, the requirements for staff and educational guidelines. 

The report contains indicators on key policies in the areas of access, staff and educational guidelines. 

The 2023 update of the Structural indicators covers 38 European education systems.

This year’s edition analyses more than 20 key structural indicators on education policies in early childhood education and care, achievement in basic skills, early leaving from education and training and higher education. It provides a short overview of major reforms since the 2014/15 school/academic year in these policy areas.

This year’s edition analyses more than 20 key structural indicators on education policies in four areas: early childhood education and care, achievement in basic skills, early leaving from education and training and higher education. It additionally provides a short overview of major reforms since the start of the 2014/15 school/academic year in these policy areas. The part of information that concerns the European Union countries has also been included in the Education and Training Monitor 2021.

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Which European countries provide specific guidelines and guaranteed places for early childhood education? Do schools receive additional resources for disadvantaged students? Where in Europe do teachers receive trainings to tackle students' early leaving and underachievement? Is informal learning recognised everywhere in Europe for entry into higher education? How common are work placements as part of higher education programmes?