EPIC has published a policy memo on inclusion in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in European Union Member States. The memo outlines what inclusion means in ECEC and why this is important, demonstrating that inclusion in ECEC is closely linked to positive outcomes for all children.

The EU has recognised the centrality of inclusion to ensuring quality ECEC through such policies as the 2013 Commission Recommendation on Investing in Children and the 2019 Council Recommendation on High Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems. By summarising findings from recent EU-level projects that examine how inclusion strengthens quality in ECEC, the memo highlights practical examples of inclusive early childhood settings, useful resources for practitioners and policymakers to enact inclusive ECEC, and explores the reforms that are needed to bring about inclusion.

Tools for practitioners and policymakers included in the policy memo include:

• A self-reflection tool for ECEC practitioners
• A framework to identify how inclusion can be implemented in different aspects of ECEC
• A report on the inclusion ‘tool-kits’ in ECEC put together by the ET-2020 Expert Group on ECEC