Monitor Toolbox
Early childhood education and care
“At least 96% of children between 3 years old and the starting age for compulsory primary education should participate in early childhood education and care, by 2030.”
Main indicator
The share of children between age 3 and each country’s starting age for compulsory primary education participating in early childhood education and care. Annual data from Eurostat based on the administrative UNESCO-UIS/OECD/Eurostat (UOE) data collection ( ).
A closer look
The main indicator based on the administrative UOE data collection can be broken down by age, sex and NUTS 2 regions. Other possible breakdowns are by type of institution or intensity of participation.
Similar indicators
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The main indicator based on the administrative UOE data collection can also be computed for different age brackets, such as pupils from age 0 to each country’s starting age for compulsory primary education and pupils under the age of 3.
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An alternative indicator based on the EU-SILC survey measures the share of children in formal childcare, which can be broken down by age group (below 3 versus 3+) and by duration.
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The alternative indicator based on the EU-SILC survey can be broken down by the risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE).
Related targets
As announced in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the revision of the 2002 Barcelona targets are part of the European Care Strategy. The 2022 Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation mentions two new targets:
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By 2030, at least 50% of children below the age of 3 participate in formal childcare (based on the EU-SILC survey);
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At least 96% of children between the age of 3 and the starting age for compulsory primary education participate in early childhood education and care (based on the administrative UOE data collection and identical to the EU-level target above).