Publications & Reports

Browse editions of our journal, Early Childhood Matters, and our Early Childhood in Focus series, along with other selected publications and reports. All are free to download or read online.

Early learning: Lessons from scaling up

This edition of Early Childhood Matters looks at the question of how to scale up early learning provision without sacrificing quality. Articles consider lessons that can be learned from national-level… Read more

Hidden violence: Protecting young children at home

Violence against young children is often hidden from view when it takes place in the home and the family. Articles in this issue of Early Childhood Matters explore the need… Read more

Young children in cities: Challenges and opportunities

Young children in cities: Challenges and opportunities - Early Childhood Matters

This edition of Early Childhood Matters looks at young children’s experiences of growing up in urban settings. A quarter of the world’s children live in poor urban settlements - a… Read more

Culture and learning

Publication ECIF6 Culture and Learning

This edition of Early Childhood in Focus addresses the major policy questions surrounding the place of culture in early childhood programmes, and how to promote development and learning while respecting… Read more

Setting our agenda on early learning, violence and physical environment

Setting our agenda on early learning, violence and physical environment - Early Childhood Matters

This edition of Early Childhood Matters offers a first introduction to the Bernard van Leer Foundation’s thinking as we flesh out our new goals for the period 2010 to 2015. Read more

Supporting Parenting

Publication ECIF5 Supporting Parenting

This edition of Early Childhood in Focus addresses these questions by looking at examples of parenting support programmes from the UK, USA, Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia, and identifies practical… Read more

Effective Early Childhood Programmes

Publication ECIF4 Effective Early Childhood Programmes

This publication, the fourth in the series, looks at the policy issues surrounding the early childhood education and care programmes: there is compelling scientific evidence showing improved long-term outcomes for… Read more

Developing Positive Identities: Diversity and Young Children

Publication ECIF3 Developing Positive Identities

This issue of Early Childhood in Focus builds on theory and evidence about what makes for positive identity, how it can be affected by adversities, social exclusion and discrimination, and… Read more

Early Childhood and Primary Education: Transitions in the Lives of Young Children

Publication ECIF2 Early Childhood and Primary Education

This second issue of Early Childhood in Focus deals with the global challenges of education for all, especially for the youngest children. It looks at the implications of growth in… Read more

Attachment Relationships: Quality of Care for Young Children

Publication ECIF1 Attachment Relationships: Quality of Care for Young Children

This is the first in a series of publications produced by the Child and Youth Studies Group at The Open University, United Kingdom, with the support of the Bernard van… Read more