Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), Download PDF

Early childhood care and education (ECCE) refers to holistic support and educational programs provided to young children, usually from birth to approximately eight years of age. ECCE focuses on the development and well-being of children during their critical formative years, laying the foundation for their lifelong learning, socialization and holistic development. ECCE includes a range of services and interventions that aim to address the physical, cognitive, emotional and social needs of young children.

ECCE Objective

By 2025, every child aged 3-6 years will have access to free, safe, high quality, developmentally appropriate care and education.

ECCE background

• 85% of brain development occurs during the first six years of life.
• A caring and stimulating environment is important for overall development.
• There is a link between attending quality pre-school and achievement in the primary grades and beyond.
• Direct correlation with retention rates, attendance rates and learning outcomes
• Studies show that children who start late are more likely to fall behind throughout the school years.
• Again in the context of the growth of the national economy. Invested in ECCE can give returns of Rs 1/-. 10/.
• The age group for ECCE is 0 – 8 years:

1. 0-3 years, with focus on mother and child health, nutrition.
2. 3 – 8 years, focus on health, nutrition, self-help skills, school preparation and play and activity based learning

ECCE Current Scenario

• A large proportion of children are not receiving developmentally appropriate education.
• Severe learning crisis – children fail to acquire basic skills in basic literacy and numeracy
• The current system of ‘Anganwadis’ lacks supplies and infrastructure for education.
• Private bodies/NGOs provide pre-school education which is the lower extension of primary classes.
• High teacher-student ratios, lack of developmentally appropriate infrastructure, inappropriate learning methods, rote memorization and untrained staff are common challenges.
• limited on health aspect

How to deliver quality ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) programmes?

• ECCE should be included as an integral part of the RTE Act.
• Government to provide free pre-school education to all children till the age of six years
• Target of early childhood education (ECE) for all by 2025
• NCERT will develop integrated curriculum.
• The frame work will consist of two parts:

1. 0 – 3 years – The program is for parents, Anganwadi workers and teachers, focusing on mother and child health and nutrition and cognitive and emotional stimulation of the child.
2. 3 – 8 years – This stage will cool down to the ‘Basic Stage’ (age groups 3 – 6 and 6 – 8).

• The role of parents and community will be integrated.
• Emphasis on significant expansion and strengthening of facilities for early childhood education through a four-pronged approach
• Strengthening and expansion of Anganwadi system
• Establishing Anganwadis along with primary schools
• Co-establishment of pre-schools with primary schools (supported by health, nutrition and development monitoring)
• To create stand-alone pre-schools in areas where Anganwadi and pre-schools are not available.
• All Anganwadi centers and pre-primary schools will be linked to a primary school.
• To develop learner-friendly environment for conducive learning environment in Anganwadis, pre-schools and primary schools.
• High quality teacher trainers for ECCE
• Six months special training for Anganwadi workers.
• To establish a quality regulatory system for ECCE.
• Priority will be given to socio-economic/marginal districts.
• ECE will come under the purview of MHRD to ensure continuity of curriculum and pedagogy from pre-primary stage to primary stage.
• A detailed plan outlining the operational and financial implications of integration of ECE with the school education system will be developed in consultation with MWCD and MHFW. The scheme will be finalized by the end of 2019 by a special task force jointly constituted by MWCD, MHFW and MHRD.

ECCE Policy

Early childhood care and education (ECCE) refers to programs and provisions for children from pre-birth to the age of six years, which support children in all areas of development i.e. physical, motor, language, cognitive, social-emotional and creative. Meets the needs of the child. and aesthetic appreciation; and ensuring coordination with health and nutrition aspects. This will include developmental priorities for each substage within the continuum, i.e. care for children under 3 years of age, early stimulation/interaction needs, and a more structured and planned school readiness component for years 5 to 6. With developmentally appropriate preschool education for children ages 3 to 6. year old children.

This policy thus applies to all early childhood care and education programmes/related services, delivered to children under 6 years of age, in the public, private and voluntary sectors in all settings across all sectors. These services may be known as Anganwadis (AWC), crèches, play groups/schools, preschools, nursery schools, kindergartens, preparatory schools, kindergartens, home based care etc. and cater to the needs of children from pre-natal to six years of age. It is proposed to complete. Year.

ECCE Policy Vision

The policy aims to promote inclusive, equitable and relevant opportunities to promote optimal development and active learning capacity of all children under 6 years of age. This includes creating pathways for a successful and smooth transition from care and education provided at home to centre-based ECCE and then school-age provision by facilitating an enabling environment through appropriate systems, processes and provisions across the country. It is envisaged to improve.

In pursuing the policy approach, the Government will be guided by the following objectives:

1. To provide comprehensive childcare support, infrastructure and services aimed at being responsive to the holistic well-being of children and their developmental needs.
2. Be sure to include adaptive strategies to include all children.
3. To build ECCE human resource capacity in all sectors to enhance and develop quality services for children and their families.
4. Set the quality, standards and curriculum framework for ECCE provisions and ensure their application and practice through advocacy and enforcement.
5. Increase awareness and understanding of the importance of ECCE and foster strong partnerships with communities and families to improve the quality of life of young children through institutional, programmatic and technological means.

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