Abstract
Despite the considerable improvements that have taken place in the field of early child care and education services the last two decades in Greece, the availability of such services, especially for children under 3 years of age, continues to be rather limited compared to other European countries. The paper briefly presents a set of issues that are linked to the current situation of ECCE in the country such as a number of socio-cultural elements that outline the connection between family structure and childcare coverage, the types of ECCE arrangements and participation rates, the issue of quality and the major problems linked with this. Finally, the major findings that have been revealed by the few research studies are presented including the link between quality and developmental outcomes.
Highlights
The importance of providing early childhood care is intricately connected to family characteristics, welfare performance and labour-market opportunities
In comparison to countries belonging to the other two clusters, further characteristics of countries belonging to the Mediterranean cluster refer to the male breadwinner enjoying higher employment protection and job stability than other labor force groups such as women and migrants; social assistance schemes which are residual; child and elderly care being provided mainly by family; unemployment compensation and vocational training systems which are underdeveloped with welfare-state institutions being relatively undeveloped (Karamessini, 2007, p. 5)
There is plenty of research evidence showing that the family unit is still part of a wider network that covers many family needs and contributes actively to everyday life these changes have had important ramifications on the norms, values and ideals structuring family life as well as on the political rhetoric and policy-making regarding family (Dragonas & Tseliou, 2009)
Summary
The importance of providing early childhood care is intricately connected to family characteristics, welfare performance and labour-market opportunities Based on these central features, among a number of others, European countries have been grouped into three clusters/social models: the Scandinavian/Nordic, the Central European and the Southern/Mediterranean cluster (Bettio & Plantenga, 2004). The cluster of strategies involved with this agenda have provided even further support for the importance of childcare provision and the availability of European Union’s support funds This has coincided with an intensive effort to extend and improve public childcare services, which has constituted the cornerstone of 'reconciliation policy' in Greece in recent years Despite the considerable improvements that have taken place, public childcare services, especially for children under 3 years, still are not considered enough to fulfil the demand
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