The report highlights how the provision of ECE for refugees is extremely limited in many settings and poorly funded. This is despite the strong evidence base on the impact quality ECE can have to help children manage their trauma and support their short-term and long-term wellbeing and development. Through an extensive literature review and several consultations with experts and practitioners, it examines the landscape of ECE in refugee settings, focusing on professional development available for ECE teachers.

The report provides a roadmap for how we can improve support and professional development to ECE teachers in refugee contexts, with four key avenues:

1 - Make the science of ECD and Learning more accessible

2 - Partner with TVET institutions in refugee settings

3 - Support establishment of communities of practice to foster collaboration and exchange between teachers and practitioners

4 - Translate learning from local communities into broader evidence and resources through a hub or learning lab system.

Please visit https://theirworld.org/resources/detail/supporting-early-childhood-education-teachers-in-refugee-settings for more information. 

See a recording of The Key series event on the topic here: https://theirworld.org/news/key-series-live-supporting-early-learning-teachers-refugee-children 

Parents want their children to be happy, to learn useful skills, and to be prepared for life. Play can help parents help their children get there. Some parents might not be aware (or might have forgotten) about the power of play to provide children with rich, joyful learning experiences in which they gain valuable skills for life. 

How do we remind them? How do we spread the message?

Lego Foundation and the (Playfutures exploration team) co-created a set of communication guidelines as reminders for communicating with parents and caregivers about their role in engaging children in playful activities.

ARNEC together with UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) are pleased to host the webinar entitled, 'Building Futures: Applying the Early Childhood Development Service Quality Standards for South Asia.'

This webinar aims to: 

(1) Introduce and provide an overview of the ECD Service Quality Standards and Guidelines, including the planning, implementation, mentoring, and monitoring and regulation of these services. 

(2) Encourage countries, especially in South Asia to think about how they can apply these ECD service quality standards given their own contextualized specifications for quality. 

(3) Reinforce how these standards can develop a common understanding of the holistic, integrated and developmentally appropriate nature of quality in ECD among all stakeholders by serving as a common point of reference, which to date has not existed in the South Asian context. 

Click here to access the presentation slides deck. Click here to read the webinar highlights. The recording of the webinar can be accessed from ARNEC's YouTube Channel. 

You can download a copy of the ECD Service Quality Standards for South Asia or visit https://www.unicef.org/rosa/documents/building-futures.  

Building Futures: Early childhood development (ECD) service quality standards for South Asia has been developed by the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia to promote a shared vision for the provision of holistic and comprehensive quality ECD services in the region. These standards are designed with the principles of child rights, equity and inclusion at its core and are intended to assist countries in developing their own standards in cases where they do not already exist; and in countries where standards already exist, it may serve as a key reference when these standards are reviewed and updated. 

The guidance was developed with the recognition that good quality ECD services have the potential to break the vicious cycle of intergenerational poverty and deprivation and to promote social equity, economic growth and prosperity. While the critical role of parents and families as primary caregivers is acknowledged, ECD services should be valued as a public good for which the government must take primary responsibility and accountability.  

We hope that Building Futures will serve as a useful guiding document for all stakeholders who may be working across related sectors involved in policymaking, planning, implementing and overseeing ECD provisions and services for children to ensure they meet quality standards.