Why we need to act?Recommendations to provide children in Europe

with access to services and opportunities

Françoise PissartDirector King Baudouin Foundation

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Early Childhood - Challenges

Insufficient quality of services for childrenChildcare services operating on outdated concepts

Parents face barriers in accessing ServicesLack of emphasis on the social inclusion potential of early childhood education and care

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Early Childhood - Recommendations

Early childhood should be recognized as a crucial stage requiring public investment in services that are accessible to all

Clear quality criteria should be set for early childhood services including professional qualifications, recognition, training, staff/child ratio, educational philosophy and values.

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Education and Training - Challenges

Barriers to quality education Failure to address broader learning outcomes for children

Children’s rights inadequately addressed

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Education and Training - Recommendations

Every child should have access to quality inclusive education that promotes child well-being and the emotional, social and physical development of the child.

All financial barriers to education should be removed. By providing necessary additional support any disadvantage that might make it difficult for children to fully learn and develop should be compensated.

Efforts should be strengthened to ensure children complete compulsory education by encouraging parental support for school completion, and by providing appropriate pathways for continued education.

5

Health Care - Challenges

Limited focus in respect of vulnerable children’s health

Limited focus on children’s access to healthChildren’s mental health requires more attention

6

Health Care - Recommendations

Children should be specifically targeted to reduce health inequalities and to achieve universal access to health care for poor and socially excluded groups, including by ensuring universal coverage of health insurance.

Recognising that childhood is a crucial period for children’s physical, mental and emotional development, all children should be assured access to health promotion and prevention programmes.

Mental health services should be expanded and made available to more children requiring support.

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Environment/Housing Challenges

Initiatives on housing/environmental issues lack a focus on children

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Environment/Housing - Recommendations

Consideration of children’s best interest should be integrated into city and territorial planning (e.g.children’s right to play and study in their neighborhood)

Ensure affordable and quality housing for families with children which provide long-term solutions and avoid unnecessary moves and school changes.

9

Child Protection and Social Services - Challenges

Limited attention to prevention measures in respect of child protection

EU actions more focused on the criminal or immigration dimensions than the protection and prevention dimensions

10

Child Protection and Social Services - Recommendations

Child protection and social services provide early intervention and prevention services that support and empower families most at-risk and avoid escalation of problems

Ensure that children are not removed from their families due to families’ lack of resources to care for children. Instead families must be supported to care for their children themselves. Efforts should be made to facilitate the deinstitutionalisation of children.

Promote the inclusion in society of all children who are not living in families

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