United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

The website for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) provided me with information about the early childhood field.  UNESCO is one of the prominent organizations that leads the international policy initiative for an integrated early childhood care and education system that incorporates both the well-being and whole development of the child. UNESCO mission is to support early childhood policy development which focuses on building a solid foundation for children to become lifelong learners. 

UNESCO advocates for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programs that address issues like health, nutrition, security and learning that provides children with holistic development.  UNESCO ‘’organized the first World Conference on ECCE in September 2010, which culminated in the adoption of a global action agenda for ECCE called Moscow Framework for Action and Cooperation: Harnessing the Wealth of Nations’’("United nations educational,").  In addition, ‘’UNESCO works in partnership with Member States, partners and other stakeholders to encourage timely and effective implementation of the Moscow Framework so that all young children develop their potential to the fullest’’ ("United nations educational,").

The website provided me with some insight that I can use to better accommodate the individual needs of children and their families.  For instance, the website provided detailed information about access, equity, and quality in early childhood education.  According to UNESCO,  ‘’Privileged children of the target age group benefit from state investment, while poor children of non-target ages receive scant government attention. A policy of universalization with targeting can minimize inequity where governments aim for universal access among the target age group, but simultaneously priorities the poor’’ ("United nations educational,") .  Knowing this information, I feel even more compelled to continue providing quality early childhood care in my home to low income children and their families as an attempt to bridge the achievement gap between socioeconomic classes.  In addition, UNESCO suggested  ‘’there are no universally agreed criteria for quantifying ECCE quality but useful factors to consider include pedagogy materials, personnel training, service setting and parental education and involvement. Learning materials should be quantitatively, culturally and developmentally adequate and focus on child-centered interaction’’ ("United nations educational,").  This information has contributed to my career as an early childhood professional by providing me with the framework for defining quality in early childhood education as well as a framework for what I need to consider when creating a learning environment for the children and families I serve. 

Reference

United nations educational, scientific and cultural organization. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/