The rapid spread of the coronavirus virus (COVID-19) has been responsible for massive global impacts on the lives of children, families and communities. It is important to document these effects for the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector. This report focuses on the Asia-Pacific region and ECEC sector, given limited regional studies…

The Brundtland (1987) report challenged the perception that the environment was somehow separate from humans and the more recent Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (UNESCO, 2015) have emphasised the pressing need for sustainable development to meet the needs of current and future generations. As progress towards meeting the SDGs by 2030 was not…

This research provides a comparative analysis of survey data from practitioners in Japan, Australia, and Korea on their practices for early childhood education for sustainability (ECEfS). These data were previously reported for each specific country. In these analyses, educators' conceptual understandings and pedagogical practices relating to…

Daytime sleep is a significant part of the daily routine for children attending early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in Australia and many other countries. The practice of sleep-time can account for a substantial portion of the day in ECEC and often involves a mandated sleep/rest period for all children, including older…

In recent decades, many OECD countries have adopted the notion of "social investment" to reframe traditional approaches to social welfare. Social investment strategies and policies focus on employment rather than welfare and promote public expenditure on skills and education throughout the life course, starting with early childhood…

Australian educators are currently engaging with wide-ranging, national early childhood reform that is reshaping Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). The Australian reform agenda reflects many of the early childhood policy directions championed by bodies, such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United…

Discusses the failure of Australian Commonwealth and State governments to institute the Convention on the Rights of the Child provisions for preschool children with disabilities from non-English speaking backgrounds. Identifies specific needs of these children and presents strategies to improve outcomes for them. (JPB)