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The European Commission has published a policy memorandum aimed at enlightening policy makers, underlining the importance of quality early childhood education and care through inclusion, and suggesting some solutions.

The memorandum introduces what inclusion means in education in general and, above all, in childcare and education. It also discusses how inclusion in early childhood education is understood in the current political context of the European Union (EU).

The document warns of many factors of discrimination and marginalisation, including those shown in the following image:

Stresses that efforts in the implementation of ‘for all’ education strategies have focused in particular on children with disabilities or special needs, but advocates that inclusive education should create strategies for all people who are excluded due to their migrant backgrounds, disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, among others.

Findings from recent projects at EU level on how inclusion is mainstreamed into different aspects of quality in early childhood education and care are also presented, which remains a challenge, especially in disadvantaged social contexts.

For more information on this topic, see memo: Strengthening the quality of early childhood education and care through inclusion / Enhancing the quality of early childhood education and care through inclusion