Early Childhood Intervention project web area available

The first Agency project analysis, conducted 2003 – 2004 in 19 European countries, highlighted the importance of ECI at both policy and professional levels and the new concept of ECI in which health, education and social sectors are directly involved. The new ECI concept focuses on child development and on the impact of social interaction on human development in general and on the child specifically. Within the first project analysis different elements, relevant to the new concept of ECI, have been identified that need to be properly implemented: availability, proximity, affordability, interdisciplinary working and diversity of services. In relation to these elements a non exhaustive list of recommendations aiming at their implementation was agreed among the experts participating in the project.

The ECI update project aimed at building on the main outcomes and recommendations of the first analysis providing, an overview regarding the progress and main changes that have been made in the participating countries since 2004, in relation to the above mentioned five key elements. Information was collected regarding:

• national ECI services and provision addressed to children from 0 to maximum 6 years; 
• existing policy measures, their implementation and existing practices in relation to the five key elements.

The web area contains a short presentation of the project and will contain country reports from all the 26 participating countries. The final analysis report will also be available soon.

The previous ECI web area with the first summary analysis and 19 country reports will remain entirely accessible through the new web page.