Growing inequality in early childhood education and care: A European perspective

Photo by Marisa Howenstine on Unsplash

Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) plays a crucial role in supporting children’s development and enabling parents, especially mothers, to participate in the workforce. Yet, access to these vital services is far from equal across Europe. Our recently published study, “Growing inequality and diverging paths in early childhood education and care: Educational disparities in Europe,” sheds light on how ECEC participation has evolved since the early 2000s and how educational inequalities have shifted over time.

The Expanding Divide

Using data from 21 European countries (2004–2019), we examined how children under the age of three participate in ECEC and whether disparities exist based on their mothers’ education levels. The findings are clear: while overall participation rates have increased, so has inequality.

• Low-educated mothers are being left behind: Children of mothers with lower levels of education continue to have significantly lower participation rates in ECEC compared to those with medium or high education levels.

• Widening gaps: The divide between low- and highly educated mothers has grown. In contrast, the gap between medium- and high-educated mothers has sometimes narrowed.

• A paradox of progress: In many countries, rising participation rates have coincided with increasing disparities, suggesting that universal access is not being achieved equitably.

Policy Matters

Our analysis highlights the importance of policy frameworks in shaping ECEC access. Countries with well-funded, universal childcare systems—like Finland, Denmark and Sweden—tend to have lower inequality. Conversely, countries relying heavily on market-driven ECEC models or lacking sufficient public investment often show greater disparities.

These findings underscore the need to address educational and socioeconomic inequalities in ECEC access. Without targeted policies, such as subsidised fees or guaranteed places, children from disadvantaged backgrounds risk missing out on early developmental benefits. This, in turn, perpetuates cycles of inequality in education and employment.

ECEC is a cornerstone of social investment, with the potential to level the playing field for all children. However, as our study shows, achieving this potential requires addressing persistent inequalities head-on.

You can read the full study here.

Reference: Välimäki Sanni, Lammi-Taskula Johanna, Mesiäislehto Merita & Närvi Johanna (2024) Growing inequality and diverging paths in early childhood education and care: Educational disparities in Europe. International Journal of Comparative Social Policy