Early childhood education and care 0–6: The state of the art of the national and international regulatory framework from an inclusive perspective

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive review of the key documents and laws governing early childhood education in the 0-6 age range, which have contributed to the development of an integrated and unified system in Italy. The analysis of these materials reveals how international policies implemented since the 2000s have progressively shaped a multifaceted concept of inclusion. Moving beyond the notion of eliminating barriers and addressing injustice faced by children in difficulty, there has been a paradigm shift towards a holistic understanding of the child, emphasizing the harmonization of physical, social, and cognitive aspects. The legislative guidelines increasingly incorporate important “constants” such as the significance of early childhood education and care (ECER) in early identification of difficulties, the connection to family, community, and peer environments, and the need for high-quality initial and ongoing teacher training. These recommendations offer valuable insights for all stakeholders involved. While reviewing the milestones of Italian legislation, this study acknowledges the progress made and the challenges addressed, yet it also recognizes the importance of further implementation of certain recommendations.

Keywords

• Inclusive early childhood education and care.
• International legislation in ECEC
• European legislation in ECEC
• Italian legislation in ECEC
• Integrated system 0-6 in education