Toolkit guide

Resources

Frameworks, guidance and monitoring tools to support each stage of policy work.

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Showing 90 of 223 resources
Best practices
Ireland's First 5 Annual Implementation Reports (Reporting Progress) [3.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [1.3]
Studies
Policy brief: The effects of home visiting programmes on key dimensions of the well-being of children and families in high and middle-income countries. Evidence for policy and program design [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region [1.3]
Best practices
Nurturing Children's Wellbeing: Iceland's Pathway to Enhanced Rights and Access [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention [1.1]
Best practices
Ireland's First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025 [3.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Universal Progressive Home Visiting: A health systems strategy for early childhood [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [2.3]
Tools & Frameworks
Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Spain’s Quality Framework for Early Childhood Intervention Services [2.3]
Tools & Frameworks
Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief [1.3]
Best practices
Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan (Government of Ireland) [3.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Developmental difficulties in early childhood: prevention, early identification, assessment and intervention in low- and middle-income countries: a review [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [3.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Early childhood development country situation analysis- Assessment tool and methodological guidance [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region [3.2]
Best practices
Scotland's family nurse partnership model [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief [3.1]
Best practices
Parenting Support Framework for the Early Years [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [2.3]
Tools & Frameworks
WHO Caregiver Skills Training [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [3.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Rating early child development outcome measurement tools for routine health programme use. [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Early childhood development country situation analysis- Assessment tool and methodological guidance [1.1]

Ireland's First 5 Annual Implementation Reports (Reporting Progress) [3.1]

Ireland's First 5 Annual Implementation Reports (Reporting Progress)
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1-3

Use it to…

Demonstrates how countries can monitor implementation of a national ECD strategy through regular reporting, accountability mechanisms and performance tracking

Where to look in this resource

An example of monitoring and evaluation of national ECD policies, with implementation and accountability mechanisms

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Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [1.3]

Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
  • Topic: Parental support
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It provides evidence to support workforce planning decisions critical for scaling parenting support services and ensuring quality and consistency.

Where to look in this resource

It provides evidence for the need for responsive parenting in the early years (p.10), and how disadvantage affects parents ability to provide nurturing care (Annex I)

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Policy brief: The effects of home visiting programmes on key dimensions of the well-being of children and families in high and middle-income countries. Evidence for policy and program design [2.2]

  • Topic: Parenting support, ECD
  • Typology: Studies
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 10

Use it to…

The Policy Brief offers useful advocacy and policy guidance for promoting home visiting for young children and families as a key strategy to improve health and development in early chidhood.

Where to look in this resource

Advocacy and policy guidance for promoting home visiting for young children and families as a key strategy to improve health and development in early childhood.

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Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [2.2]

Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 5-6

Use it to…

This guidebook provides a practical, adaptable model for professionals and policymakers across Europe to help families recognise their own strengths, actively participate in decision-making, and improve their child's community inclusion via Early Childhood Intervention programming.

Where to look in this resource

- Case study of Portugal's SNIPI ECI approach including its history and development (pgs. 53- 64), legislation (pg. 57; 63-64), goals (pgs. 58-59), ministerial and local structures (pgs. 59-63)

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Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention [2.1]

Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It helps policymakers generate robust, evidence‑based insights into the strengths and weaknesses of early childhood intervention systems. It supports informed decision‑making, policy development, and strategic investment to improve early identification, support, and outcomes for children with developmental risks or disabilities

Where to look in this resource

It provides an overview of what early childhood intervention services entails (p.21-25), a theory of change to support policymakers in defining objectives and outcomes (p.30) alongside an overview of different research methodologies to support an analysis of the ECD landscape (in relation to objectives and outcomes described in the theory of change) (Chapters 6-8)

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Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region [1.3]

Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

The framework offers policymakers a coherent, evidence‑based structure for designing and aligning national ECD strategies across sectors. It supports informed decision‑making by highlighting priority actions that contribute to improved child outcomes, social cohesion, and long‑term human capital development.

Where to look in this resource

The framework sets out key action points across areas for policy intervention, including monitoring and surveillance.

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Nurturing Children's Wellbeing: Iceland's Pathway to Enhanced Rights and Access [2.2]

  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 2

Use it to…

Provides a practical example of cross-sectoral governance, integrated service delivery, early intervention, and rights-based approaches to improving child health and wellbeing. It demonstrates how legislation, coordination mechanisms, and sustained investment can strengthen support for children and families.

Where to look in this resource

Can be used as a promising practice example to inform early childhood legislation and policy.

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Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention [1.1]

Methodological Guide: Research for national situation analysis on early childhood intervention
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 3

Use it to…

It helps policymakers generate robust, evidence‑based insights into the strengths and weaknesses of early childhood intervention systems. It supports informed decision‑making, policy development, and strategic investment to improve early identification, support, and outcomes for children with developmental risks or disabilities

Where to look in this resource

It provides an overview of what early childhood intervention services entails (p.21-25), a theory of change to support policymakers in defining objectives and outcomes (p.30) alongside an overview of different research methodologies to support an analysis of the ECD landscape (in relation to objectives and outcomes described in the theory of change) (Chapters 6-8)

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Ireland's First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025 [3.1]

Ireland's First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1-3

Use it to…

Provides a practical example of translating a national ECD strategy into a time-bound implementation plan with defined responsibilities and measurable outputs.

Where to look in this resource

An example of how to implement multisectoral ECD policies; governance and coordination arrangements

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Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [2.1]

Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
  • Topic: Parental support
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It provides evidence to support workforce planning decisions critical for scaling parenting support services and ensuring quality and consistency.

Where to look in this resource

It provides an overview of entry points to delivering a parenting support service at different levels and what this entails (Universal, Targeted, and Intensive) (p.18 - 37) A helpful tool to undertake a workforce needs assessment for parent support services. Seven areas covered: 1) workforce expectations, 2) curricula, materials and resources, 3) training, supervision and career development, 4) workforce conditions and wellbeing, 5) program design, 6) enabling environment and 7) monitoring and quality assurance. Tool application on page 11.

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Universal Progressive Home Visiting: A health systems strategy for early childhood [2.1]

  • Topic: Parenting support, ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Provides important guidance for advocacy and policy design for advancing universal-progressive home visiting model for young children and families.

Where to look in this resource

Informs policy design for a UPHV model

Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [2.3]

Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 2

Use it to…

This guidebook provides a practical, adaptable model for professionals and policymakers across Europe to help families recognise their own strengths, actively participate in decision-making, and improve their child's community inclusion via Early Childhood Intervention programming.

Where to look in this resource

Integrated, intersectoral and multidisciplinary ECI approaches and cooperation (pgs. 219-239) with practical exercises to support the approach (pgs. 238-239)

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Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief [2.1]

Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It provides a clear, evidence‑based justification for public investment in ECI and supports policymakers in framing early intervention as a system‑level responsibility rather than a niche or discretionary service.

Where to look in this resource

It supports policymakers to select policy priorities by providing a justification of the importance of ECI (p.4) and what a family-centred ECI service requires (p.5-6)

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Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region [2.1]

Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

The framework offers policymakers a coherent, evidence‑based structure for designing and aligning national ECD strategies across sectors. It supports informed decision‑making by highlighting priority actions that contribute to improved child outcomes, social cohesion, and long‑term human capital development.

Where to look in this resource

The framework highlights the need to review existing harmful practices (page 15) as well as sectors to consider for policy review

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Spain’s Quality Framework for Early Childhood Intervention Services [2.3]

  • Topic: Early intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Provides a practical example of how national quality standards, governance, funding, and evaluation can improve access to equitable, integrated early childhood intervention services and reduce waiting times

Where to look in this resource

To understand how to implement the European Child Guarantee through a comprehensive policy framework

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Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief [1.3]

Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It provides a clear, evidence‑based justification for public investment in ECI and supports policymakers in framing early intervention as a system‑level responsibility rather than a niche or discretionary service.

Where to look in this resource

It supports policymakers to select policy priorities by providing a justification of the importance of ECI (p.4) and what a family-centred ECI service requires (p.5-6)

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Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan (Government of Ireland) [3.1]

Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan (Government of Ireland)
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1-3

Use it to…

Illustrates how governments can use action plans to drive reform and improvement of early years services, including funding, workforce, access and quality measures.

Where to look in this resource

An example of a practical action plan to address access and affordability of ECEC services

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Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [2.2]

Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
  • Topic: Parental support
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 7-8

Use it to…

It provides evidence to support workforce planning decisions critical for scaling parenting support services and ensuring quality and consistency.

Where to look in this resource

It provides examples of best practices (e.g., parenting intervention supports to refugees in Poland p.34), layered family-centred parenting services in Portugal, p.38), universal multisectoral parenting support in Serbia, p.29)

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Developmental difficulties in early childhood: prevention, early identification, assessment and intervention in low- and middle-income countries: a review [2.1]

Developmental difficulties in early childhood: prevention, early identification, assessment and intervention in low- and middle-income countries: a review
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Offers evidence-based guidance on preventing, identifying and addressing developmental difficulties in young children. It highlights effective strategies for early detection and intervention, helps inform the design of integrated early childhood development services, and offers practical recommendations for strengthening health and support systems in resource-constrained settings

Where to look in this resource

Understand available evidence regarding prevention, identification and intervention for developmental difficulties

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Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [3.1]

Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 3

Use it to…

This guidebook provides a practical, adaptable model for professionals and policymakers across Europe to help families recognise their own strengths, actively participate in decision-making, and improve their child's community inclusion via Early Childhood Intervention programming.

Where to look in this resource

- Family-centred approach ECI Guidelines (pgs. 69 -90) with definitions (pg. 71), principles (pg. 72), rationale (pgs. 77-84), implementation (pgs. 85-88) - Family-centred intervention approach (pgs. 93- 217) including information around referrals (pgs. 100-106), contacts (pgs. 107-116), assessment and its implementation (pgs. 117-189), monitoring and evaluation (pgs. 190-193; 197-204). There also are included practice, practical exercises to support the approach (pgs. 213-217)

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Early childhood development country situation analysis- Assessment tool and methodological guidance [2.2]

Early childhood development country situation analysis- Assessment tool and methodological guidance
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Actions 1-2

Use it to…

This tool enables policymakers to make informed, strategic decisions by providing a clear, evidence‑based picture of ECD system performance and gaps. It supports priority setting, cross‑sector coordination, and the development of coherent national ECD strategies aligned with international standards and country‑specific needs.

Where to look in this resource

- Tool description (pgs. 3-4); - Tool's nine priority areas with associated goals overview (pgs. 4-5) followed by breakdown by priority area (Enabling environment for strengthening support for ECD and protection of child rights (pgs. 7-8); Parenting and responsive caregiving (pg. 9); Child health (pgs. 10-11); Nutrition (pgs. 12 -14); Play and learning (pg. 15); Developmental monitoring (pgs. 16-17); Early intervention for children with developmental difficulties (pgs. 18-19); Safety and security (pgs. 20-21); Parental well-being (pgs. 22-23)); - General guidance and steps for using the tool and measuring results (pgs. 24-28) with country-level specific and process advice (pgs. 26-29).

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Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region [3.2]

Framework on Early Childhood Development in the WHO European Region
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 2

Use it to…

The framework offers policymakers a coherent, evidence‑based structure for designing and aligning national ECD strategies across sectors. It supports informed decision‑making by highlighting priority actions that contribute to improved child outcomes, social cohesion, and long‑term human capital development.

Where to look in this resource

Key actions for developmental monitoring and assessment are laid out (pages 11-13), including the use of appropriate developmental monitoring tools.

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Scotland's family nurse partnership model [2.2]

  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 8-9

Use it to…

An example of a well established national, intensive home visiting programme targeted at vulnerable families, with a ten-year evaluation availble

Where to look in this resource

To understand how a specialist home visiting programme can be successfully implemented and expanded

Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief [3.1]

Building a sustainable and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention system: Policy brief
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1-3

Use it to…

It provides a clear, evidence‑based justification for public investment in ECI and supports policymakers in framing early intervention as a system‑level responsibility rather than a niche or discretionary service.

Where to look in this resource

It provides a breakdown of the processes to establishing a national ECI service (e.g., who should be involved, financial responsibilities, and quality standards) (p.6-7).

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Parenting Support Framework for the Early Years [2.1]

Parenting Support Framework for the Early Years
  • Topic: Parental support
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Provides a practical systems framework for designing, strengthening and scaling parenting support programmes.

Where to look in this resource

Framework for multi-sectoral support for parents

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Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [2.3]

Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool
  • Topic: Parental support
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1, 3

Use it to…

It provides evidence to support workforce planning decisions critical for scaling parenting support services and ensuring quality and consistency.

Where to look in this resource

It provides guidance specific to evaluating parenting support services, such focusing on outcomes related to parental needs and behaviours (p.50) alongside general evaluation principles such as using a theory of change to guide evaluation outcomes, and integrating new data capture into existing data capabilities The tool describes how key stakeholders (from nutrition, education, health, social and child protection, and all levels of government) need to come together to prioritize areas for attention related to supporting and strengthening the parent support workforce. Pages 10-11.

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WHO Caregiver Skills Training [2.2]

  • Topic: Parenting support
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 8-9

Use it to…

Offers guidance on caregiver skills training for families of children aged 2–9 years with developmental delays or disabilities

Where to look in this resource

A practical, scalable approach to supporting children with developmental delays and disabilities through caregiver-led interventions, helping policymakers strengthen inclusive early childhood development services and expand access to support

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Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals [3.2]

Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. A Guidebook for professionals
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1

Use it to…

This guidebook provides a practical, adaptable model for professionals and policymakers across Europe to help families recognise their own strengths, actively participate in decision-making, and improve their child's community inclusion via Early Childhood Intervention programming.

Where to look in this resource

- ECI Evaluation approaches and related goals (pgs. 241- 267) with practical exercises to support the approach (pgs. 257-267)

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Rating early child development outcome measurement tools for routine health programme use. [2.2]

Rating early child development outcome measurement tools for routine health programme use.
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 3

Use it to…

A useful analysis to facilitate selection of the most appropriate monitoring tools

Where to look in this resource

-The results include a heat map of accuracy and feasibility ratings for each measurement tool as well as an overview of each tool assessed

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Early childhood development country situation analysis- Assessment tool and methodological guidance [1.1]

Early childhood development country situation analysis- Assessment tool and methodological guidance
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 1

Use it to…

This tool enables policymakers to make informed, strategic decisions by providing a clear, evidence‑based picture of ECD system performance and gaps. It supports priority setting, cross‑sector coordination, and the development of coherent national ECD strategies aligned with international standards and country‑specific needs.

Where to look in this resource

- Tool description (pgs. 3-4); - Tool's nine priority areas with associated goals overview (pgs. 4-5) followed by breakdown by priority area (Enabling environment for strengthening support for ECD and protection of child rights (pgs. 7-8); Parenting and responsive caregiving (pg. 9); Child health (pgs. 10-11); Nutrition (pgs. 12 -14); Play and learning (pg. 15); Developmental monitoring (pgs. 16-17); Early intervention for children with developmental difficulties (pgs. 18-19); Safety and security (pgs. 20-21); Parental well-being (pgs. 22-23)); - General guidance and steps for using the tool and measuring results (pgs. 24-28) with country-level specific and process advice (pgs. 26-29).

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