Talking heresy about 'quality' early childhood education and care for children in poverty

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2018

Abstract

This paper considers the socially progressive function of a model of 'quality' early childhood education and care widely prescribed to address child poverty across England and the USA. Ubiquitous, it is imbued with a sense of objectivity, secureness and practicality. We question these foundations. Then using data from practitioners in both countries, we contrast expectations about this model of ECEC as an unmitigated good building resilience to 'break cycles of disadvantage', with the everyday experiences and frustrations of practitioners pursuing it. Their data suggest this model of 'quality' has limitations and some heresy is required about this policy orthodoxy.

Publication Title

Journal of Poverty and Social Justice

Volume

26

Issue

1

First Page

3

Last Page

18

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1332/175982717X15087735299368

ISSN

17598273

E-ISSN

17598281

Share

COinS