e Early h l Case Studies na of E A atio ar Trn ly d te Ch In il dh v o o d a E d u n c a t io t n a a n d g C a r e e S y s t e m s EvolvingResponsive a HarmonizedIntegrated Policymaking and Hybrid andUniversal Implementation:System of ECEC: Maintaining the Reform Momentum RespectingEarlyAFrom Careful Childhood Equality Children Balancing to Services:and Equity ActFamilies Using Data for Improvement HongSingaporeAustraliaEnglandFinland Kong Integrated and Universal Early Childhood Services: Using Data for Improvement A Case Study of the English Early Childhood Education and Care System Professor Kathy Sylva, Grace Murkett, and Beatriz Melendro October 5, 2018 CopyrightÓ 2018 Teachers College All rights reserved International Case Studies of Innovative Early Childhood Systems: England Contents Executive Summary 1 Part 1 Introduction 11 Chapter 1: Study Overview .......................................................................................................... 12 Rationale and Goals ................................................................................................................... 12 Study Architecture ..................................................................................................................... 14 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 20 Data Collection, Analysis, and Validation................................................................................ 24 Definitions and Abbreviations .................................................................................................. 26 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... 28 Part 2 General Country Context 29 Chapter 2: Country Background .................................................................................................. 30 Key Points ................................................................................................................................... 30 Historical context ........................................................................................................................ 30 Geographic/Demographic Context .......................................................................................... 33 Sociocultural Context ................................................................................................................. 33 Political Context.......................................................................................................................... 35 Socioeconomic Context .............................................................................................................. 38 Educational Context (Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary) ....................................................... 41 Policy Process ............................................................................................................................. 44 Implications for ECEC................................................................................................................ 44 ii www.ncee.org/EarlyAdvantage International Case Studies of Innovative Early Childhood Systems: England Chapter 3: Conditions of Young Children .................................................................................. 46 Key Points ................................................................................................................................... 46 Demographic Data on Numbers of Young Children ............................................................... 46 Vulnerable Children ................................................................................................................... 47 Chapter 4: Policies Related to Young Children and Their Families ........................................ 50 Key Points ................................................................................................................................... 50 Legal Documents that Frame Service Delivery ........................................................................ 51 Major Policy Changes in this Century ...................................................................................... 60 Part 3 Direct Services for Young Children 63 Chapter 5: Nature of General Services Provided for Young Children .................................... 64 Key Points ................................................................................................................................... 64 Nature of General Services Provided........................................................................................ 64 Health .......................................................................................................................................... 67 Enrollments in Above Services .................................................................................................. 73 Organization of Above Services ................................................................................................ 74 Chapter 6: Nature of ECEC Services ............................................................................................ 76 Key Points ................................................................................................................................... 76 Nature of ECEC Services Provided ........................................................................................... 77 Enrollments in ECEC Services ................................................................................................... 84 iii www.ncee.org/EarlyAdvantage International Case Studies of Innovative Early Childhood Systems: England Part 4 Systemic Outputs: Fostering Quality Services 87 Chapter 7: Pedagogical Approaches and Curriculum ............................................................... 88 Key Points ................................................................................................................................... 88 Describing Curriculum and Pedagogical Approaches ............................................................ 89 Historical Evolution of Curricular/Pedagogical Approaches ................................................ 90 Framework Documents that Influence Curriculum (National/Subnational)........................ 93 Nature/Content of Curriculum (Areas of Learning, Curriculum Frameworks)................... 93 Use of Time and Space ............................................................................................................... 95 Diversity and Cultural Responsiveness .................................................................................... 96 Provision for: .............................................................................................................................. 97 Transitions (Within Setting, Across Settings) ........................................................................... 98 Innovations ............................................................................................................................... 100 Contributions to Quality .......................................................................................................... 100 Challenges ................................................................................................................................. 101 Chapter 8: Children’s Development: Goals, Standards, Assessment, and Accountability 102 Key Points ................................................................................................................................. 102 Early Learning and Development Standards ......................................................................... 102 Health Standards ...................................................................................................................... 109 Assessment, Data, and Accountability ................................................................................... 111 Innovations ............................................................................................................................... 113 Contributions to Quality .......................................................................................................... 114 Challenges ................................................................................................................................. 114 iv www.ncee.org/EarlyAdvantage International Case Studies of Innovative Early Childhood Systems: England Chapter 9: Program Quality: Standards, Inspection, and Improvement............................... 116 Key Points ................................................................................................................................. 116 Program Regulations................................................................................................................ 116 External Inspection (Monitoring) Regulations ....................................................................... 119 Professionalism and Adequacy of External Inspection Personnel ....................................... 122 Uses of External Inspection Data ............................................................................................ 123 Innovations ............................................................................................................................... 125 Contributions to Quality .........................................................................................................