Quality Matters in Early Childhood Education and Care: Czech Republic 2012
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) can bring a wide range of benefits – for children, parents and society at large. However, these benefits are conditional on “quality”. Expanding access to services without attention to quality will not deliver good outcomes for children or long-term productivity benefits for society.
This series of country reports focuses on quality issues. Each report tackles a specific theme that was selected by the country reviewed. These reports suggest strengths and point to areas for further reflection on current policy initiatives.
Executive summary
ECEC is receiving increased policy interest in the Czech Republic, as improving quality in the ECEC sector is a subject of growing importance. The Czech Republic considers improving quality through curriculum as a priority, as it can ensure even quality across different settings. It can also help staff clarify their pedagogical aims, focus on the most important aspects of child development and respond adequately to children’s needs. It can also ensure continuity between ECEC and primary schooling. Additionally, the framework helps parents learn about child development and encourages them to ensure a good home learning environment. It can also act as a bridge between staff and parents for information sharing about what children do in centres and facilitate needs-based interventions.