Beyond Inclusion. Early Childhood Education and Care in Hungary, Budapest-Józsefváros

This volume of papers is intended to acquaint early childhood education professionals, and all interested parents with the multifaceted and rich work of high standards of academics active in bachelor level pre-school education and early childhood teachers working in Józsefváros Joint Crèches (JJC) in District 8 of Budapest.The authors joined forces in the context of the European Union-funded Multi-cultural Early Childhood Education (MECEC+) project and created a jointly thinking professional team with the goal of preparing a comparative analysis of early childhood education in three countries: Hungary, Italy and Spain. In the light of their experience acquired abroad, the Hungarian members of the team decided to share the achievements of the JJC projects, at the vanguard of early childhood education in Hungary, in the form of a comprehensive publication. Józsefváros Joint Crèches launched a complex development programme that necessitated careful planning and preparation with the participation of all stake-holders.

Their goal is to provide education and care services of superior quality in every crèche of the district. This work requires not only raising awareness and the continuing training of staff but also carefully conceived “joint learning” involving every stakeholder including parents and the operator. In this book we present some of the stages of this exciting and edifying trip.