Nursery World - To the point... (67)

This week's columnist Helen Penn wants our Government to avail itself of international ambitions for childcare and education Recently I co-organised a conference in London with Professor Peter Moss about 'Starting Strong II', the OECD 20-nation review on early childhood education and care (ECEC). The OECD is a widely respected economic organisation, representing the world's richest countries. It produces comparative reports and league tables on a range of economic and educational issues.

Recently I co-organised a conference in London with Professor Peter Moss about 'Starting Strong II', the OECD 20-nation review on early childhood education and care (ECEC). The OECD is a widely respected economic organisation, representing the world's richest countries. It produces comparative reports and league tables on a range of economic and educational issues.

'Starting Strong II' is written in sober OECD style, but it is dynamite.

The cautious, detailed review suggests child poverty (still very high in the UK) should be addressed through income redistribution and universal services, not targeting. It is critical of the private sector because of instability, closures and takeovers in the struggle for profit. It argues for adequate investment (still low in the UK) because it is impossible to improve staffing and achieve quality services without it.

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