Press Release: Commission urges Member States to improve quality and access to early childhood education and care

The European Commission published on the 19 June 2014 a report on early childhood care and education. One of the main findings of the report was that only eight European countries - Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Malta, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden and Norway - guarantee a legal right to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) soon after a child's birth, normally after the end of paid maternity or parental leave. In all other countries, the gap between the end of maternity / parental leave and legal entitlement to ECEC is more than two years.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Education and Culture http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/index_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Quality in early childhood education and care http://www.europeansources.info/record/quality-in-early-childhood-education-and-care/

---