Liz Birkbeck’s Post

Imagine a place where: -Child care is guaranteed at a low cost when your child turns 1 -That child care program is seen as a joyful place where childhood is protected, so much so, that law states child care programs must acknowledge “the intrinsic value” of childhood. -Children spend most of their days playing outside -Child care programs must be (under that same law) rooted in values including forgiveness, equality, solidarity and respect for human worth. They must be designed around the interests of children and provide activities that allow children to develop their “creative zest, sense of wonder and need to investigate.” -Programs receive double the funding for ages 1-3 given the needs of younger children -Staff-to-child ratios are low, 1:3 for children under 3, and 1:6 for older children. -Parents who opt to stay home or can't get a spot for their child in care receive a stipend. That place exists: Norway! Earlier this year, thanks to the Spencer Fellowship at Columbia Journalism School, I traveled to Norway and visited 9 child care programs to learn about the country's approach to childhood and how that bleeds into their child care policy. You can read the story below (longer version) or with The Christian Science Monitor (shorter version). (And yes- there are still challenges and caveats, all explained below!) https://lnkd.in/gZRhAZTE

Readiness for the #future (including milestones along the way like high school readiness and graduation) is made possible by investments in quality #earlylearning and supports. Norway seems to have gotten some major pieces right in terms of ensuring that children have a successful start to their lives. When I was in GCPS people often asked why I focused both on early learning and on #AI... well, early learning builds the foundation for what is or isn't going to be possible in the future for learners. This is why we built and expanded our Play 2 Learn program and developed the joyful learning program that ensure that our kids are having joy filled experiences that prepare them for their future. Really neat article by my friend Jackie in the Hechinger Report. "Norwegians are so serious about the right to child-centric early care, they wrote it into law. The country’s Kindergarten Act, which took effect in 2006, states that child care programs must acknowledge “the intrinsic value” of childhood. Programs must be rooted in values including forgiveness, equality, solidarity and respect for human worth. Through kindergartens, children are meant to learn to take care of each other and develop friendships. Programs are ordered to respect children, “counteract all forms of discrimination” and contribute to a child’s well-being and joy. They must be designed around the interests of children and provide activities that allow children to develop their “creative zest, sense of wonder and need to investigate.”" #forgiveness #joy #play #valueofchildhood

“A report released today by the UMass Boston Early Education Cost and Usage Simulator (CUSP) Project led by the Early Education Leaders Institute and Center for Womenq in Politics and Public Policy, demonstrates that increased family financial assistance for early child care and education will make quality licensed child care for children of all racial and ethnic groups more affordable. Provided that there is an adequate supply of quality child care to meet the expected increase in demand, increased family financial assistance holds the potential to virtually eliminate existing racial/ethnic gaps in access to quality child care. Key findings of Building a Foundation for Racial and Ethnic Equity: Estimated Impacts of Massachusetts Legislation to Expand Affordable Quality Child Care and Early Education include: - Eligibility for child care financial assistance proposed in the legislation varies by race and ethnicity: 40% of all White and Asian families are eligible; 82% of Latino, 78% of Black, and 69% of all other (including multiracial) families are eligible - Under the legislative proposal, financial assistance would be provided to 128,500 families in the Commonwealth, or 20.6% of all families with children. When examined by race, the financial assistance would affect 33% of Latino, Black, and other (including multiracial) families with age-eligible children as compared with 20% of Asian families and 15% of White families. - For children younger than school age currently using nonparental care, utilization of licensed care under the legislative proposal would increase from 54% to 80% for Black children and 47% to 77% for Latino children. - All families would experience increased rates of parental employment under the legislative proposal. The largest increases in the numbers of hours worked would be seen among Black mothers (6.2% increase), followed by Latinas (5.8%) and other mothers, including those who are multiracial (5.4%).”

The early years of childhood are critically important for a healthy start to academic life and beyond—however, access to high-quality, affordable child care is often not equitable. A new report from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) highlights how communities that have “low Child Opportunity Index (COI scores” are less likely to have access to high-quality programs. COI scores are determined by several factors, including quality schools, clean air, access to health care, and safe housing. Read more from EdNC’s Liz Bell on this report and what it means for North Carolina’s early childhood education system: https://lnkd.in/eMRFe_sX

💡 Insightful article that underscores the importance of investing in early childhood. The research found that children from low-income families who grew up near a Sure Start centre performed significantly better in their GCSEs compared to their peers who lived further away. This is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of early support and investment in children's futures. It's clear that providing a supportive environment for children in their early years can yield life-changing results. Let's continue to advocate for and invest in early childhood initiatives. #EarlyChildhood #Education #InvestInOurFuture https://lnkd.in/edbuSCi2

With the pandemic and the cost of living crisis having posed challenges to early years services over the past few years, the interventions given by these services to the youngest children remain just as vital. This article takes on a hopeful approach to boosting the accessibility for children and families to access support, something which is greatly beneficial to the whole of society when it is in place. #earlyyears #interventions #accessibility #childhood Institute of Development Studies https://lnkd.in/eBcm4FzS

Quality child care is a fundamental right that all children should enjoy, regardless of their socio-economic status. Access to high-quality, affordable and inclusive early learning and child care (ELCC) is essential for the cognitive, emotional and social development of children. It also plays a crucial role in supporting parents, particularly mothers, to participate in the workforce, thereby contributing to the overall economic growth of our community. https://lnkd.in/gAFn_eK4

I cannot tell you how furious I am having read this and seen the findings, which I had expected, confirmed by the IFS. In my professional life on a daily basis I work with children whose history is a litany of missed opportunities. My team and I will always do whatever is within our power to make a difference in every child's life and there may be some positive outcomes. But the hard truth is, and one that people don't like to admit to readily, is that the opportunity to make the biggest difference has been missed. Felicity Gilespie from Kindred sums it up: "A child's development at 22 months serves as a strong predictor of education outcomes at age 26. Most of the human brain is developed before we can even talk and in the first year of life, the brain literally doubles in size. The evidence of the massive impact our earliest relationships, environments and experiences has on our future development is incontrovertible." Whether it's a missed SEND diagnosis in early years, parents struggling to manage, lack of access to health advice or early identification and prevention of neglect or abuse, every missed opportunity can have a dramatic impact on the outcomes for the individual and, scaled up, to impact the education, health, social care and criminal justice system as a whole. When parents are not supported in the early years, their children become vulnerable. Rigorous scientific study has shown us time and time again the importance of the early years, and now this study into the impact of community based outreach programmes to support vulnerable parents and children continues to confirm what we already know - that investment early can have a life long impact. We know this years ago. We knew it when Sure Start centres were closed across the UK. We knew it when the diluted 'Family Hubs' were established. We now have clear, statistical analysis to show that not only did Sure Start positively impact the individual users, but that the total financial benefit of Sure Start was 109% of its cost. It saved the country money. So what do we do now? With an election on its way, what do we do now? Because, whoever is in charge, I can't handle any more short-sighted, short-term policies that neglect children, families and leave the wider system struggling under the weight of problems that could have been prevented. Investment in the Early Years should not be a point we have to argue. We know it is important. We know it is cost effective. Why do we have to campaign for common sense?? #surestart #kindredsquared #eyfs #school #education #families #specialneeds For more on Felicity Gillespie and Kindred Squared: https://lnkd.in/e8qghwxt

Policy Equity Group understands the impact of accessible, affordable, and high-quality child care on families and their financial stability. This article highlights the urgent need for policy reform in early care and education— benefiting mothers and families of diverse backgrounds, and child care workers with young children: https://lnkd.in/gp2ZSyEt Our 🤔’s: Affordable Child Care: Families shouldn't have to choose between financial stability or economic mobility and their children's well-being. Policy initiatives must prioritize making child care more affordable for all families. Supporting Workforce Participation: Accessible child care options are essential for mothers to fully participate in the workforce. Flexible policies in the workplace can help parents go to work without worrying if their children have quality care. Investing in Early Educators: Recognizing the vital role of early childhood educators, including those in child care settings, we promote and design policies that support their professional development, fair compensation, and working conditions. #ChildCarePolicy #EarlyEducation #PolicyReform #ChildCareWorkforce #ECE

If you have local child care centers that are facing similar staffing challenges, Business of Child Care is here to help. We work closely with programs on these issues and can assist in getting your centers back on track. Call us today for more information and support @ 844-444-5602. A recent article from The 74 highlights a critical staffing crisis in North Carolina's child care sector, with about 29% of programs expected to close due to the end of pandemic-era funding. This funding cliff threatens the quality and availability of early childhood education. Providers are facing difficulties such as competing with public schools for teachers, increased operational costs, and insufficient subsidies that do not cover the actual costs of services, particularly in rural areas. #ChildCare #StaffingCrisis https://lnkd.in/d-_8Kp8V