Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a topic of increased policy interest in the Slovak Republic where improving quality in the ECEC sector is a subject of growing importance. The OECD has identified five effective policy levers to encourage quality in the sector: 1) quality goals and regulations; 2) curriculum and guidelines; 3) workforce; 4) family and community engagement; and 5) data, research and monitoring. Of the five aspects, the Slovak Republic considers improving quality in the workforce as a priority; it considers well-educated, well-trained professionals the key factor in providing high-quality ECEC with the most favourable cognitive and social outcomes for children. This report consists of three chapters. This report consists of three chapters. Chapter one aims to help you to brief political leaders, stakeholders and the media about the latest research and explain why workforce quality and working conditions matter for better child development. It includes an overview of research findings on why qualifications and training and development matter, what the effects of workforce-related aspects are on child development and quality of ECEC provision, which aspects matter in workforce development and working conditions, policy implications from research, and knowledge gaps in current research. Chapter two provides an international comparative overview of where your country stands with regard to education and training of staff, as well as working conditions. It identifies the strengths and areas for reflection for the Slovak Republic in comparison with the selected reference countries. Chapter three presents the challenges countries have faced in improving workforce development and working conditions and gives alternative approaches to overcome these challenges. This section provides a quick overview of what Finland and Sweden have done in tackling challenges in improving the quality of the workforce. Each chapter contains notes and references. (Contains 4 tables and 10 figures.)