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This Eurydice Brief highlights some of the main findings of the second edition of Eurydice report on 'Key Data on Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe'. After a short introduction of the European policy context on early childhood education and care (ECEC), this brief describes the main policy measures to ensure access specifying which countries guarantee a place in ECEC from which age. The brief shows in where ECEC services are available free of charge and in which countries parents pay the highest fees. The availability and regulations on home-based provision (offered by childminders) across Europe is also reviewed.

Aiming to provide an overview of the quality of ECEC, the brief includes information on governance, staff qualification requirements and educational content. Attention is also drawn to the different ways in which countries monitor ECEC quality as well as to the measures that enable a smooth transition to primary education.