Professionalism in Early Childhood Education and Care

Convenors:

Antje Rothe, University of Hanover, Germany
Mary Moloney, Mary Immaculate College, Ireland

Purpose

In many countries of the world, the expansion and further development of the early childhood care and education system is linked to a terminology of ‘profession’. Curricula, or national pedagogical frameworks, have been introduced as a means to foster professional practice. Qualifications, in-service training/education and an increasing number of university degrees are contributing to the notion that there is a profession in early childhood and an associated need for ‘professional’ development.

Yet (at least from our point of view), there is far less understanding about what ‘profession’ in Early Childhood is all about. Do we really understand what it means to act ‘professionally?’

• in a rapidly changing society where settings and situations are continuously changing, in social contexts and groups which tend to be chaotic as they organize and re-organize themselves, continuously forming patterns and relations which cannot be predicted or controlled?
• with a broad variety of people (children and adults) who pursue various interests?
• when we know that teachers act first as human beings with a personal history and generate their ‘actionable knowledge’ (Argyris) everyday.

The SIG on professionalism in early childhood wants to address these (and other relevant) questions. We suggest paying special attention to the development of what might be called a professional habitus. And while we find that these questions can be cross-nationally addressed and reflected upon, we must be aware that ‘acting’ as a professional can only be done in the specific local context. Under these conditions, the SIG can be a place for ‘shared thinking’ and for creating synergies rather than for producing universally valid outcomes.

Report

Click here to view the 2019 report (pdf) Margaret Sims, Antje Rothe, Mary Moloney
Click here to view the 2018 report (pdf) Margaret Sims, Antje Rothe, Mary Moloney and Cynthia Buettner
Click here to view the 2017-18 report (pdf) Margaret Sims and Cynthia Buettner
Click here to view the 2011-12 report (pdf) Carmen Dalli and Mathias Urban

News & Events

The Professionalism in Early Childhood Education and Care SIG will host their virtual meeting on Wednesday,  15th September , 12-14.00 pm (BST).

The meeting is open to members and non-members. The purpose is to share an update on the work of the SIG since the EECERA conference last year, to discuss how the Covid Pandemic has affected the early childhood sector and how it is viewed at a political and societal level and to plan future work.

If you would like to attend, please notify Mary Moloney