In this section you will find a selection of web sites relevant to early childhood education and care (ECEC) policy and social policy. Use the drop down menu to choose a category to browse, or search the links by typing in a keyword and choosing a category.
IFS is a research institute which provides economic analysis. Its research focuses on the UK tax system and considers the likely effects of fiscal policy on every section of population. Issues examined include child poverty, inequality, labour market issues, and other pressing social policy concerns.
Research centres
IRPP researches public policy issues and options in Canada, including some material on child care policy. Website links to other research institutes in Canada and worldwide. Content available in French.
Research centres
IWPR is a public policy research organization dedicated to informing and stimulating the debate on public policy issues of critical importance to women and their families. Website links to resources, publications and research.
Social policy/child organizations
Magazine is published by the Canadian Child Care Federation four times a year. Selected issues available for download. Content available in French.
Periodicals
ICMEC is a multi-disciplinary research centre set up in May 2007 and is based in UEL's School of Education. ICMEC's aims are to generate greater knowledge about ECEC provision in countries which employ mixed economies of welfare and education services; to explore the contribution to young children's well being within mixed economies of childcare; and to develop an international and multi-disciplinary approach to exploring mixed economies of childcare.
Research centres
The International Step by Step Association (ISSA) is a membership organization that connects professionals and organizations working in the field of early childhood development and education. ISSA promotes equal access to quality education and care for all children, especially in the early years of their lives.
Child care organizations
The Korea Institute of Child Care and Education is a national research institute that takes an integrative and systematic approach to policy research on early childhood care and education. KICCE works for the advancement of ECEC in Korea through domestic and international networks and collaboration. They publish the International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy.
Research centres
Child Day Care, Child and Family Services Division, Department of Family Services and Housing
Government
Mathematica studies various social policy issues such as health care, welfare, education, employment, nutrition, and early childhood policies and programs in the United States. Website links to publications and research.
Research centres
On March 13, 2003, Federal, Provincial, Territorial Ministers Responsible for Social Services reached agreement on a framework for improving access affordable, quality, provincially and territorially regulated early learning and child care programs and services. This initiative builds on the September 2000 First Ministers' commitment to improve and expand early childhood development programs and services.
Government
The National Academies conduct research on the scientific issues that frequently pervade policy decisions, including issues in childhood development and the importance of child care. Website links to note worthy publication "From Neurons to Neighbourhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development" and other interesting publications.
Research centres
The National AfterSchool Association is the leading voice
of the afterschool profession dedicated to the development, education,
and care of children and youth during their out-of-school hours. NAA is
the membership association for professionals who work with children and
youth in diverse school and community-based settings to provide a wide
variety of extended learning opportunities and care during out-of-school
hours.
Child care organizations
Nation's largest organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children from birth through third grade. Links to the "Early Childhood Research Quarterly" and "Young Children". Position statements, annual conference details and other NAEYC resources available
Child care organizations
NACCRA's mission is to provide vision, leadership, and support to community child care resource and referral and to promote national policies and partnerships committed to the development and learning of all children. Website provides information on projects, publications, policy symposiums, professional development training and other child care initiatives.
Child care organizations
The National Center for Children and Families advances the policy, education, and development of children and their families. Housed at Teachers College, Columbia University, the Center offers research-based approaches to contemporary social and public problems affecting underserved children and families.
Research centres
NCCP indentifies and promotes strategies that prevent child poverty in the United States and that improve the lives of low-income children and families. Website links to resources on statistical research, on-line journals and developmental studies regarding children.
Research centres
Federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the United States and other countries.
Government
The NCB "aims to prevent and reduce the depth of child poverty in Canada". Site provides background information, progress reports, and information on provincial reinvestments. Content also available in French.
Government
NCCIC is a project of the Child Care Bureau and is a national resource that links information and people to complement, enhance, and promote the child care delivery system, working to ensure that all children and families have access to high-quality comprehensive services. Website contains vast amount of resources and information, including an online library, resource lists, links, searchable database, state profiles and more.
Clearinghouses
NCA is a group of more than two dozen national organizations with an interest in the well-being of children and youth. It was established to promote the National Children's Agenda initiative by the federal and provincial governments. Website contains links to discussion papers, position papers, reports and newsletters. Content available in French.
Social policy/child organizations
NCW is a citizens' advisory body to the Minister of Human Resources Development Canada on matters of concern to low-income Canadians. Website provides links to press releases, fact sheets, publications, and other related sites. Content available in French.
Government
NHSA provides a national forum for the continued enhancement of Head Start services for poor children ages 0 through 5, and their families. It sponsors various campaigns as well as research and projects oriented towards serving this community.
Child care organizations
NIEER supports early childhood education initiatives by providing objective, nonpartisan information based on research. Its goal is to produce and communicate the knowledge base required to ensure that every American child can receive a good education at ages three and four. A variety of useful resources for research is available, include working papers, newsletters, publications, state databank and more.
Research centres
NIOST's mission is to ensure that all children, youth, and families have access to high quality programs, activities, and opportunities during non-school hours. Website links to research, evaluation and consultation, policy development and public awareness, training and curriculum development.
Research centres
Spotlights are published by the National Center for Early Development and Learning periodically throughout the year. It focuses on major presentations by NCEDL researchers, academic journal articles, and results from studies on early childhood development and learning. Full texts are available on-line. (Scroll down for link to magazine.)
Periodicals
The New Zealand Council for Educational Research is an independent, educational research organization that provides educators, students, parents, policy makers and the public with innovative research, analysis and advice. Many of NZCER's reports (including the longitudinal Competent Children, Competent Learners project) are available in full-text online.
Research centres
The Ministry of Education has links to education-related research, publications, news items, curriculum information, ECEC information, and issues relating to Maori education.
Government
Comprehensive longitudinal study initiated by The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in 1989 to answer questions regarding the relationship between child care experiences and children's developmental outcomes.
Research centres
NIEER Online News brings you the latest news and information on early education research and policy, as well as the activities of the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University.
Periodicals
The Ministry of Children and Equality endeavours to ensure that children and young people get a good upbringing and that families can feel secure - both financially and socially. The Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for nursery schools and the educational system. This website directs you to a page devoted to the topic of families and upbringing.
Government
Nursery World is the UK's leading publication for practitioners and decision-makers across the early years education and childcare sectors.
Clearinghouses
The OECD is "an international organisation helping governments tackle the economic, social and governance challenges of a globalised economy." The current mandate for th OECD's Education and Skills is "making lifelong learning a reality for all". The Thematic Review of ECEC is under this OECD umbrella. The ECEC section includes all published documents from the first stage of this international review - Country Background Papers and Country Notes, conference papers, summaries, and the landmark final report, "Starting Strong." Updates and coming events section includes new papers, updated country profiles, work on indicators and data, and information on the current round of reviews.
Social policy/child organizations
The Honourable Landon Pearson is a Canadian Senator with a special interest in the rights of children.
Government
Policy Library is a social, economic and foreign policy resource. The site offers links to print and online research and resources from social policy think tanks, academic institutes and other research facilities (in continental Europe, North America and Australia.) This url directs you to the section on child and family policy issues.
Clearinghouses
Rural Voices is designed to increase community participation in ECEC in rural Canada and to help policy makers design and deliver services. Site provides information on broader rural child care issues. It contains specific references to the agricultural provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan where farm safety issues raise the importance of child care to an even greater level.
Child care organizations
The Children's Food Trust is a new community interest company working with the School Food Trust, the registered charity and specialist advisor to Government on school meals, children's food and related skills.
Research centres
Government - links to Canadian and international government websites. The Canadian section links either to the provincial offices responsible for child care or to the larger ministry under which child care falls.
Child care organizations - links to Canada-wide, provincial, Aboriginal and international ECEC organizations.
Social policy/child organizations - links to NGOs focused on social policy or children's issues. In addition to dealing with other pressing social policy concerns, these groups may also have noteworthy information about ECEC.
Research centres - links to academic facilities (usually university-based) concerned with ECEC, family or social policy issues.
Clearinghouses - links to websites that collect and compile and organize an enormous amount of useful information.
Periodicals - links to online magazines, newsletters and journals relevant to ECEC policy. Some are available full-text while others have abstracts only. The description field will indicate the type of availability.
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