QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR CHILDCARE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE – A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SELECTED EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

The purpose of the presented article is to compare the guidelines for providing high quality education and care for the youngest children (up to age 3) in selected European countries: Sweden, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The analysis is based on desk-research referring to the scientific literature, legal regulations, methodological materials (manuals for caregivers) and national and international reports on the organization of early childhood education and care. The international comparison points to several priority areas in establishing early education and care regarding educational norms and values, methods of working with children that provide opportunities for individual cognitive, social and emotional development, methods of ensuring cooperation between institutions of care with caregivers or with institutions of the education system, and ensuring adequate social participation.