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

Donald Simpson; Sandra Loughran; Eunice Lumsden; Philip Mazzocco; Rory McDowall Clark; Christian Winterbottom

doi:10.1332/175982717X15087735299368

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

Donald Simpson, Sandra Loughran, Eunice Lumsden, Philip Mazzocco, Rory McDowall Clark, Christian Winterbottom

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › peer-review

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3-18
Number of pages	16
Journal	Journal of Poverty and Social Justice
Volume	26
Issue number	1
Early online date	26 Oct 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1332/175982717X15087735299368
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2018

Keywords

Childcare
Childhood
Disadvantage
Early education
Poverty
Pre-school

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1332/175982717X15087735299368

JP&SJ article_accepted copy for archivesAccepted author manuscript, 674 KB

Cite this

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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.",

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AU - Winterbottom, Christian

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KW - Pre-school

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

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Prof Eunice Lumsden

I just want to talk about children

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

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Profiles

Prof Eunice Lumsden

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I just want to talk about children

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