Building on former conclusions of the EC, the Council agrees abouth further cooperation on ECEC. Following up the earlier EC Communication about ECEC. ECEC refers to education and care for children aged 0 to compulsory education.

It stresses 

1. Providing equitable access to high-quality, inclusive ECEC, in particular for children with a socio-economically disadvantaged, migrant or Roma background, or with special educational needs, including disabilities.

2. Designing efficient funding models, including targeted funding, which strike the right balance between public and private investment in accordance with national and local circumstances.

5. Promoting developmentally appropriate programmes and curricula, which fosters the acquisition of both cognitive and non-cognitive skills, whilst recognising the importance of play, which is also crucial to learning in the early years.

6. Supporting parents in their role as the main educators of their children during the early years, and encouraging ECEC services to work in close partnership with parents, families and communities, in order to increase awareness of the opportunities offered by ECEC and of the importance of learning from an early age.

and invites member states to
analyse & evaluate their ECEC services
Ensure equitable access to ECEC and reinforcing its quality are in place
Invest efficiently in ECEC as a long term growth-enhancing measure

invites the Commission
to support MS in identifying & exchanging good policies.
Broaden the evidence base in field of ECEC with research
Monitor the progress as part of ET2020

Invites Member States to
engage in policy cooperation
To make efficient use of all relevant EU instruments in fields of linge long learning and research, as well as the European structural funds in line with the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy.