A clearer identification of potential barriers and facilitators will inform the ongoing phased expansion of Early Years Provision in Wales and England and support the ArWAP's delivery especially in terms of childcare and play. [...] To inform broader early years policy discussions we examined: • What evidence exists about the nature and scale of the challenge in terms of participation in ECEC among ethnic minority children and families? • What are the barriers and enablers to participating in ECEC among ethnic minority children and families? • What interventions have been tried to encourage participation in early years educat. [...] • Inadequate data: To inform robust ECEC policy action and monitor the effectiveness of interventions, existing evidence and data on the uptake, perspectives, and experiences of ethnic minority families in the UK is inadequate. [...] Theme 3: Community outreach, engagement, and mobilisation Trusting and supportive relationships Adopt a relational approach to ECEC outreach and pave the way for ethnic minority delivery through home visits, community parents and families to engage with engagement, and home-based support (where ECEC services. [...] Develop a community-oriented strategy to centre community partnerships, engagement, and voice in the ongoing development and implementation of Community relationships play a key ECEC policy and provision.
Authors
- Pages
- 16
- Published in
- United Kingdom
Table of Contents
- Project outputs 2
- Introduction 3
- Project background 3
- Policy context 4
- Welsh policy context 4
- Overarching findings 5
- UK challenges 5
- Summary of findings and recommendations 6
- Recommendations and findings 8
- Recommendation 1: Develop a long-term, comprehensive approach to closing the access gap in ECEC. 8
- Key finding: Reducing cost is necessary but not sufficient. 8
- Recommendation 2: Take an integrated approach that includes connecting with employers, community institutions, and other government services to better reach and support families. 8
- Key finding: ECEC policies must be integrated with other policies, services, and sectors. 8
- Recommendation 3: Allocate resource for evaluation of ECEC-related interventions as part of policy design and experimentation. 9
- Key finding: Interventions might initially increase uptake in ECEC but fail to sustain participation or improve developmental outcomes. 9
- Recommendation 4: Embed long-term evaluation and routine ethnicity data collection that is reliable and available. Take a holistic approach to evidence on barriers and experiences to effectively develop and improve policy and practice. 9
- Key finding: A lack of data and evaluation of initiatives hinders effective policy implementation to improve ECEC access. 9
- Recommendation 5: Develop a cultural sensitivity and inclusivity programme for ECEC settings. 11
- Key finding: Inclusive policies that respect and value cultural diversity are key to developing approachable and acceptable provision for ethnic minority children and families. 11
- Key finding: The ECEC workforce is key to widening access to childcare. 11
- Recommendation 7: Ensure a minimal burden of proof for free or subsidised ECEC services. 12
- Key finding: Families can disengage because of application processes that may require documents and assume digital skills, devices, and literacy. 12
- Recommendation 8: Adopt a relational approach to ECEC outreach and delivery through home visits, community engagement, and home-based support (where appropriate for specific groups). 13
- Key finding: Trusting and supportive relationships pave the way for ethnic minority parents and families to engage with ECEC services. 13
- Recommendation 9: Develop a community-oriented strategy to centre community partnerships, engagement, and voice in the ongoing development and implementation of ECEC policy and provision. 13
- Key findings: (1) Community relationships play a key role in facilitating, supporting, and improving ECEC access for ethnic minority children and families. (2) Targeted outreach can support ECEC uptake. 13
- Key findings: ECEC practitioners acting as cultural brokers can support ethnic minority access and engagement; some evidence suggests brokers can positively impact child development. 13
- Appendix A: About this evidence review 15
- Underpinning framework 15
