Toolkit guide

Italy's Primi Passi programme [2.3]

Topic
ECD
Tools & Frameworks
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
Health Area
Early childhood development
Area
2.3
Description

Four-year national programme funded through the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and European Social Fund. Implements home visiting, responsive parenting activities, and cross-sector collaboration, prioritising vulnerable families and disadvantaged regions

Brief description
Italy's new early childhood development and parenting support programme for the first 1,000 days of life
Keywords
home visiting; first 1000 days; responsive caregiving; community-based services; multisector coordination
Resource Title
Italy's Primi Passi programme

Scotland's family nurse partnership model [2.2]

Topic
ECD
Tools & Frameworks
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
Health Area
Early childhood development
Area
2.2
Description

A structured programme delivered by nurses and midwives with additional specialist training, this family-centred model has been shown to have a high rate of uptake and to improve outcomes

Brief description
Intensive programme of home visiting for a child's first 1001 days of life, designed to support young first-time parents
Keywords
home visiting; nurse-led support; first 1001 days; vulnerable families; continuity of care
Resource Title
Scotland's family nurse partnership model

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

Topic
Early intervention
Tools & Frameworks
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
Health Area
Early childhood development
Link
https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/gobierno/news/paginas/2025/20250131-early-…
Area
2.3
Description

Establishes a family-centred ECI model delivered in children's natural environments, with developmental assessment, waiting-time targets, quality standards, financing mechanisms, and cross-sector governance involving health, education, and social services

Brief description
National quality framework setting standards for timely, universal, publicly funded early childhood intervention services for children aged 0-6 years
Keywords
quality standards; developmental assessment; waiting times; public financing; service integration
Resource Title
Spain’s Quality Framework for Early Childhood Intervention Services

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

Topic
ECD
Tools & Frameworks
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.
Health Area
Early childhood development
Link
https://www.unesco.org/en/early-childhood-education/nurturing-childrens-wellbei…
Area
2.2
Description

The resource outlines Iceland's Prosperity Act (No. 86/2021), implemented in 2022, which aims to provide access to services for children and parents.

Brief description
The UNESCO case study describes Iceland's Prosperity Act and its whole-system approach to supporting children and families.
Keywords
child rights; integrated services; legislative reform; cross-sector governance; wellbeing promotion
Resource Title
Nurturing Children's Wellbeing: Iceland's Pathway to Enhanced Rights and Access

Countdown to 2030: Country profiles on early childhood development [1.1]

Topic
ECD
Tools & Frameworks
Tools & Frameworks
Language
EN
Relevant actions
Action 1,3
Use it to…
A summary of key data relating to early childhood development at country level
Where to look in this resource
Data can be used to inform policy, compare across countries and make the case for investment areas in ECD as well as for monitoring where data is currently unavailable
Countdown to 2030: Country profiles on early childhood development
Health Area
Early childhood development
Link
https://www.countdown2030.org/early-childhood-development-profiles
Area
1.1
Description

Produced by UNICEF and updated every two years, the country profiles set out key data (where available) in relation to early childhood development, including threats to ECD, children at risk of poor development, and support and services available

Brief description
The country profiles set out key data in relation to early childhood development, as part of developing global accountability and monitoring.
Keywords
country profiles; indicator data; accountability; monitoring framework; comparative analysis
Resource Title
Countdown to 2030: Country profiles on early childhood development

Early Childhood Development: subreport of Children's Realities in Europe: Progress and Gaps. [2.3]

Topic
ECD
Tools & Frameworks
Best practices
Language
EN
Relevant actions
Action 1-3
Use it to…
Key recommendations for policymakers are included, as well as evidence from across Europe
Where to look in this resource
-Pages 8-9 set out key recommendations and summary of findings from across European countries
Early Childhood Development: subreport of Children's Realities in Europe: Progress and Gaps.
Health Area
Early childhood development
Link
https://eurochild.org/uploads/2025/02/Eurochild-2024-Flagship-Sub-report-on-Ear…
Area
2.3
Description

Drawing on evidence across Europe, the report highlights progress and challenges in ECD. Key findings include the need for a national, integrated approach, the need for social protection, tackling child poverty and the need for investment in children's early years, and access to quality early childhood education and care (ECEC). Recommendations are included for governments to strengthen support for children and families.

Brief description
This report reviews policies, challenges, and opportunities in early childhood development across Europe, with recommendations to improve access to quality services and reduce inequalities for young children
Keywords
child poverty; social protection; integrated policy; service access; inequalities
Resource Title
Early Childhood Development: subreport of Children's Realities in Europe: Progress and Gaps.

Rating early child development outcome measurement tools for routine health programme use. [3.2]

Topic
ECD
Tools & Frameworks
Tools & Frameworks
Language
EN
Relevant actions
Action 2
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
Rating early child development outcome measurement tools for routine health programme use.
Health Area
Early childhood development
Link
https://adc.bmj.com/content/104/Suppl_1/S22
Area
3.2
Description

In this analysis, 27 tools for early childhood development outcome measurement (25 individual and 2 population-level tools) were rated across a range of accuracy and feasibility criteria

Brief description
This paper assesses the accuracy and feasibility of ECD measurement tools
Keywords
measurement tools; developmental assessment; tool selection; feasibility analysis; outcome monitoring
Resource Title
Rating early child development outcome measurement tools for routine health programme use.

Understanding and Supporting Mental Health in Infancy and Early Childhood - a Toolkit to Support Local Action in the UK. [1.1]

Topic
ECD
Tools & Frameworks
Tools & Frameworks
Language
EN
Relevant actions
Action 1
Use it to…
Can be used to demontrate the imortance of holistic support for health in early childhood in order to facilitate lifelong health and wellbeing
Where to look in this resource
-Part 1 makes the case for the importance of early childhood mental health in order to facilitate healthy emotional development and lifelong health and economic prosperity
Understanding and Supporting Mental Health in Infancy and Early Childhood - a Toolkit to Support Local Action in the UK.
Health Area
Early childhood development
Link
https://www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UnderstandingAndSupporting…
Area
1.1
Description

Produced by UNICEF UK and the University of Cambridge, the toolkit aims to highlight the importance of mental health in early childhood, and support decision makers to develop system-wide resources to support mental health throughout the life course

Brief description
A toolkit to support a shared understanding of mental health in early childhood
Keywords
infant mental health; emotional development; system-wide action; prevention; wellbeing promotion
Resource Title
Understanding and Supporting Mental Health in Infancy and Early Childhood - a Toolkit to Support Local Action in the UK.

The health visitor network in Hungary: a unique system in Europe [2.2]

Topic
ECD
Tools & Frameworks
Best practices
Language
EN
Relevant actions
Action 3
Use it to…
An example of a community health visiting service providing health care and assessment of early child development as well as support within inpatient settings and as a supportive liasion role with social care services.
Where to look in this resource
-Section 1 outlines the role of health visitors in prenatal and child health care, including assessments of physical health and child development. -Section 2 includes the role of health visitors in social care.
The health visitor network in Hungary: a unique system in Europe
Health Area
Early childhood development
Link
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344088519_The_health_visitor_network_i…
Area
2.2
Description

This review describes how Hungary's health visitors deliver services across the life course, including pregnancy support, maternal and child health care, health promotion, home visiting, and adolescent health.

Brief description
This paper reviews Hungary's national health visitor system, highlighting its role in delivering universal maternal and child health services through community-based preventive care.
Keywords
health visiting; preventive care; maternal health; home visiting; community outreach
Resource Title
The health visitor network in Hungary: a unique system in Europe

Spanish Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs Agenda 2030. Children with Rights: National Action Plan to Implement the European Child Guarantee (2022-2030). [2.3]

Topic
ECD
Tools & Frameworks
Best practices
Language
EN
Relevant actions
Action 3
Use it to…
A comprehensive action plan identifying barriers to ECD, target outcomes, enabling measures, and plans for implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Where to look in this resource
-Pages 19-21 highlight governance across sectors. - Pages 22-28 set out objectives. Pages 29-31 set out measures for improvement. Pages 46-48 outline implementation, monitoring and evaluation
Spanish Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs Agenda 2030. Children with Rights: National Action Plan to Implement the European Child Guarantee (2022-2030).
Health Area
Early childhood development
Link
https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/95472c7d-2e86-42a6-9c1e…
Area
2.3
Description

The National Action Plan to implement the European Child Guarantee sets out Spain's policy framework designed to reduce child poverty and ensure equitable access to education, childcare, health, nutrition, and housing for vulnerable children through coordinated action across sectors

Brief description
The Action Plan highlights Spain's national strategy for implementation of the European Child Guarantee
Keywords
child poverty reduction; policy implementation; intersectoral governance; monitoring framework; equitable access
Resource Title
Spanish Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs Agenda 2030. Children with Rights: National Action Plan to Implement the European Child Guarantee (2022-2030).
Early childhood development