The Child Care Transition

Readers with an interest in early years provision in other countries should be interested in a new report from UNICEF. Published yesterday, The Child Care Transition examines early childhood education and care in 25 economically advanced countries by utilising a league table system, measuring each country against a set of benchmarks which are considered important elements of good practice in childcare.

The UK appears in the middle of the table, and is credited with having achieved 5 of the 10 benchmarks which were applied to each country. However, the DCSF has disputed the results of the study, claiming that there are several inaccuracies in the report. Sweden came top of UNICEF's league, having achieved each of the 10 benchmarks on which countries were assessed.