On December 18 2024, the International Step by Step Association (ISSA), in partnership with ISSA Members, the Educational Research Institute (Slovenia) and Open Academy Step by Step (Croatia), hosted the final dissemination event for the Principles of Quality in Education of Teachers (PIQET) initiative. Co-funded by the European Union, this three-year project tackled the critical question: Who supports those who support early childhood educators? The event celebrated the project’s key achievements and its contributions to advancing the quality of continuous professional development (CPD) for educators who train, mentor, and coach early childhood professionals. 

The event opened with reflections on the first of four PIQET outputs: a comprehensive analysis of CPD practices. This study, conducted with ISSA member organizations across Europe and Central Asia, mapped the challenges faced by CPD educators. It revealed significant gaps, including limited professional recognition, inadequate investment in training, and a lack of shared quality standards. This research laid the groundwork for the subsequent development of practical tools and frameworks. 

Practical tools for transformative professional growth 

The PIQET project produced three additional key outputs designed to support CPD educators and elevate the quality of their work: 

1. PIQET Principles: These nine guiding principles provide a shared framework for quality CPD, focusing on inclusivity, participant-centered learning, and transformative practices. They serve as a reflective tool for CPD educators to assess and enhance their approaches. 

2. Modular Training Program: This flexible training resource allows educators to address specific professional gaps. Divided into four building blocks—foundational knowledge, interactive strategies, responsive adaptation, and lifelong learning—it equips CPD educators with practical strategies to enhance their competencies. 

3. PIQET Handbook: This comprehensive guide combines the principles and training modules into a transformative pathway for professional growth. The handbook supports CPD educators in reflecting on their practices, setting actionable goals, and fostering collaboration. 

These resources, tailored for diverse contexts, were piloted in Slovenia and Croatia. Participants appreciated the tools for encouraging deeper self-reflection, fostering participant-centered approaches, and addressing unconscious biases. 

Event highlights 

The dissemination event featured insights from project partners and participants, who shared experiences from the three-year journey. Jerneja Jager from Slovenia emphasized the importance of tailoring CPD to participants’ needs, while Marina Matesic highlighted the collaborative development process that ensured the resources’ relevance. Attendees also discussed the future of CPD, emphasizing the need for national standards, greater investment, and recognition of CPD educators’ vital role. 

The PIQET initiative marks a significant step in transforming and strengthening the professional development systems for early childhood education and. By providing actionable tools and frameworks, the project has laid the groundwork for systemic change. The resources are available on the ISSA website, offering stakeholders the opportunity to join this collective effort to enhance professional development and create better outcomes for children and families. 

Watch the recording here!