News

Last week, the partners of the Diversity+ project spent two days in Bratislava for the first in-person Transnational Partners Meeting warmly hosted by a project partner and ISSA Member Skola Dokoran – Wide Open School. The meeting brought together…

Recent European studies show that quality of education and care in the early childhood depends on the presence of a professional and competent workforce. As part of their research on early childhood development, ISSA Member, For Our Children…

The Diversity+ project provides ECEC professionals, managers and practitioners with governance, benchmarking, recognition and professionalization tools to help them transform their practice and open up to diversity that exists among children…

On November 2, 3, and 4, ISSA is hosting another opportunity to Connect. ISSA Connects for Learning will include three professional development sessions, all free of charge. We asked workshop facilitators to share who their session is…

On November 2, 3 and 4 ISSA is hosting another opportunity to Connect. ISSA Connects for Learning will include three professional development sessions, all free of charge. We asked workshop facilitators to share who their session is for and why you…

On November 2, 3 and 4 ISSA is hosting another opportunity to Connect. ISSA Connects for Learning will include three professional development sessions, all free of charge. We asked workshop facilitators to share who their session is for and why…

Early years settings have a huge role to play in society. They contribute to children’s learning and development, support them to develop social relations, and function as a ‘gateway’ into society. They also allow parents to work, engage in…

Over the last few weeks, we have witnessed a massive mobilization of the Roma minority in Europe standing against injustice and the devastating outcomes of antigypsyism. Recent events in the Czech Republic sadly show how the discrimination, social…

Many recent neurological studies have shown that violent and malicious educational practices impact a child’s emotional development and self-esteem. Questioning, defining, and understanding them in order modify our reactions becomes essential. This…

The Persona Doll Method is a practical approach to help children talk about emotions and feelings in early childhood settings. The method provides a powerful, non-threatening, and enjoyable way to raise equality issues and counter stereotypical and…

For professionals working to create inclusive environments in schools and preschools, many questions arise. How do you ensure your school fits any requirements? How do you provide adequate infrastructure? How are you sure to provide a rich…

The International Step by Step Association (ISSA) is a vibrant international network that connects professionals and non-profit organizations working in the field of early childhood development. Established in the Netherlands in 1999, ISSA’s…

The European Commission’s ECEC webinar “Working with families and the whole community” last week highlighted 7 initiatives from across Europe. ISSA or ISSA Members have been actively engaged in each of them. VBJK and were involved in the START…

In the last decade, children’s transitions across the home environment, early childhood education and care (ECEC), and compulsory school education have gained attention both in academic and policy debates. Despite this, very few…

COVID-19 pandemic is putting all countries in Europe under a hard test now: the ‘early childhood’ test, or in other words, the ‘long-term, visionary investment in the youngest generation’ test. While across the European Union, Member States are…

ISSA seeks to hire a consultant to scan and identify advocacy opportunities at the EU level for the “Engaging men and promoting positive gender norms in early childhood” Initiative.   The work is to be carried out in June 2021 from…

The deadline for this vacancy has passed.   ISSA seeks to hire an Admin and Office Assistant. The position is based at ISSA’s office in the Child Rights Home, looking out on the famous Burcht in the center of Leiden. You will join two other…

After a successful pilot in 2019, for a second year in a row, the ISSA Secretariat supported the dissemination of Early Childhood Matters articles through its Members[1] in 12 countries across Europe and Central Asia. A total of 14 articles…

During the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, reopening has been very challenging for Italian early childhood education and care centers. Some practices and spaces had to be modified to comply with  COVID regulations, including limiting the presence of…

The Danish Union of Early Childhood and Youth Educators (BUPL), project partner in InTrans, is involved in a LEGO Foundation’s program in Denmark. By engaging academics, professionals, municipalities, children and parents, the program…

Bucharest, April 9th, 2021 - Parents in Romania are aware of the importance of education for a child’s development, however they associate the outcomes of education with discipline, conformism and school performance, while creative and…

ISSA Member VBJK is launching the new Flemish magazine on ECEC Kindertijd (which means ‘childhood’ in Dutch). The first issue of the magazine will be published in the fall of 2021. That means that VBJK will end the collaboration with the Dutch…

Based on an interview with Hana Zylfiu-Haziri, Program Manager Kosovo Education Center As a membership organization, ISSA unites and supports professionals to deliver responsive, high-quality, and equitable services to all children and their…

The Childcare Unit of the city of Ghent, also ISSA member, is training parents as childcare workers. Parents involved in parent participation actions in the Ghent Childcare Settings are addressed and offered a training to gain vocational skills,…