Toolkit guide

Resources

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

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Showing 120 of 223 resources
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 [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 [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 [3.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Early childhood development country situation analysis- Assessment tool and methodological guidance [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Early childhood development country situation analysis- Assessment tool and methodological guidance [1.1]
Best practices
Italy's Primi Passi programme [2.3]
Tools & Frameworks
10 steps to the development of an Early Childhood Intervention System: Roadmap [1.1]
Best practices
Romania's National Strategy for Supporting Parents 2024-2030 [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [3.1]
Best practices
Policy, legislation and guidance on health/home visiting -Scotland [2.1]
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 [2.1]
Tools & Frameworks
Operationalising nurturing care for early childhood development: the role of the health sector alongside other sectors and actors [1.2]
Tools & Frameworks
10 steps to the development of an Early Childhood Intervention System: Roadmap [1.3]
Best practices
Survey of Wellbeing of Young Children [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
UNICEF Mapping of gender-responsive family policies in the Europe and Central Asia region [1.3]
Best practices
Estonia's layered parenting support system [2.2]
Best practices
Romania National Policy Brief [2.2]
Tools & Frameworks
Spain’s Quality Framework for Early Childhood Intervention Services [2.2]
Best practices
Ireland's first five strategy [2.2]

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 [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 [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 [3.1]

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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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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Italy's Primi Passi programme [2.3]

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

Relevant actions: Action 3

Use it to…

An example of how the European Social Fund can be used to design and implement services to improve child development and family wellbeing while targeting inequalities

Where to look in this resource

An example of policy design using the European Social Fund and based on the Nurturing Care Framework, with an equity focus and strong evaluation component

10 steps to the development of an Early Childhood Intervention System: Roadmap [1.1]

10 steps to the development of an Early Childhood Intervention System: Roadmap
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It supports strategic planning by helping policymakers identify missing system components, prioritise reforms, and sequence actions in a realistic and coherent way.

Where to look in this resource

The roadmap provides an evidence-based definition of the need for early intervention and what makes a successful ECI service (e.g. one that focuses on supporting families and the social inclusion of families, and not a service that focuses on interventions to address what the child lacks (p.4-5)). This helps to build an evidence base of the importance of the desired ECD service landscape

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Romania's National Strategy for Supporting Parents 2024-2030 [2.2]

  • Topic: Parental support
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 7-10

Use it to…

Can be used as an example of a national, multisectoral strategy focusing on family support, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups

Where to look in this resource

Offers an example of a national framework for family support and parental education

Parenting Support Workforce Needs Assessment Tool [3.1]

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

Relevant actions: Action 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

Appendix 7 describes how to undertake monitoring and quality assurance of services delivered in relation to the parent support workforce. Page 43

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Policy, legislation and guidance on health/home visiting -Scotland [2.1]

  • Topic: Parenting support
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Key policy frameworks, statutory guidance and evidence underpinning early years, child health and family support services, helping policymakers inform solutions.

Where to look in this resource

Informs home visiting as a strategy for universal parenting 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 [2.1]

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

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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Operationalising nurturing care for early childhood development: the role of the health sector alongside other sectors and actors [1.2]

Operationalising nurturing care for early childhood development: the role of the health sector alongside other sectors and actors
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

Can be used by policymakers to translate nurturing care principles into health system action and strengthen multisectoral implementation.

Where to look in this resource

Supports policy implementation, multisectoral governance, identifying health sector entry points and service design

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10 steps to the development of an Early Childhood Intervention System: Roadmap [1.3]

10 steps to the development of an Early Childhood Intervention System: Roadmap
  • Topic: Early Intervention
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It supports strategic planning by helping policymakers identify missing system components, prioritise reforms, and sequence actions in a realistic and coherent way.

Where to look in this resource

The roadmap describes core aspects of an ECI service, to support identification of key priorities. For example, it highlights key aspects of how families can be engaged effectively in ECI services (e.g., as "experts of the child and family needs", and building on "naturally occurring learning opportunities" that parents already use to support the child's development, p.6).

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Survey of Wellbeing of Young Children [2.2]

Survey of Wellbeing of Young Children
  • Topic: Developmental monitoring and early detection
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 3

Use it to…

Can be translated and validated by countries to support developmental monitoring and early identification of developmenta risks as part of routine primary health care for chidren.

Where to look in this resource

Example of a screening instrument that includes questions covering a broad range of developmental areas in children under 5 years of age

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UNICEF Mapping of gender-responsive family policies in the Europe and Central Asia region [1.3]

UNICEF Mapping of gender-responsive family policies in the Europe and Central Asia region
  • Topic: Parental support
  • Typology: Tools & Frameworks
  • Language: EN

Use it to…

It helps policymakers identify how family and gender policies interact with ECD and parenting support objectives, supporting more equitable policy design.

Where to look in this resource

Mapping work across 21 countries to assess the status of 10 gender-responsive family policies: maternity leave, paternity leave, parental leave, carer’s leave, flexible working arrangements, the early childhood education and care system, the pre-primary education system, paid breastfeeding breaks, sick leave, and family and child benefits.

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Estonia's layered parenting support system [2.2]

  • Topic: Parenting support
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 7-10

Use it to…

Demonstrates how parenting support can be embedded within national health, education, and social care systems through a tiered model that offers universal support for all families while providing additional evidence-based interventions for those with greater needs

Where to look in this resource

Highlights how parenting support interventions are delivered through universal, targeted and intensive services, supported by evidence-informed decision-making.

Romania National Policy Brief [2.2]

Romania National Policy Brief
  • Topic: Parental support
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Action 7-10

Use it to…

This briefing is a helpful broad overview Romania's transition in approach to family-based support and can be reviewed as a taster into the approach and lessons learned.

Where to look in this resource

- Definition of family support based on National Strategy of Parent Education (pg. 2) with support contextualised (pg. 2); - Strategy implementation (pg. 3) - Recommendations and lessons learned from strategy development implementation (pgs. 4-6)

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Spain’s Quality Framework for Early Childhood Intervention Services [2.2]

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

Relevant actions: Action 5

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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Ireland's first five strategy [2.2]

Ireland's first five strategy
  • Topic: ECD
  • Typology: Best practices
  • Language: EN

Relevant actions: Actions 1-2

Use it to…

The strategy can be used as an example of best practice by policymakers, demonstrating an evidence-based, collaborative approach with a strong focus on health equity.

Where to look in this resource

Pages 21-27 outline the context and importance of supporting ECD, as well as the strategic vision. Objectives 1 and 2 set out approaches to parental support and the need for resources and services for parents. Objective 3 sets out the context and interventions to address inequalities related to poverty and discrimination. Objectives 4-6 highlight the need for healthcare interventions to support physical and mental health. Goal D (pages 104-115) sets out areas to consider for effective implementation, including governance, workforce and monitoring. Pages 117-122 set out specific actions for implementation, while pages 122-171 outline specific strategic actions across the objectives

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