Changing today for a better tomorrow

Save the Children India firmly believes that Early Childhood Education should be the right of every child

Any programme and policies intended to improve the ECCE scenario should be based on the following principles:• Preschool Education as a right• Holistic approach• Quality norms and standards on ECE• Educating Parents and Caregivers• Contextual approach & Learning linked with the development priorities• Equity and Inclusion• Primacy of mother tongue based learning• Child Protection and safe spaces as a crucial element of ECE

Save the Children’s ECD Work in India

ANDHRA PRADESH: SC has reached more than 20,000 children aged 0-8 years andprovided them with a child focused, gender sensitive and inclusive teaching-learningenvironment.

DELHI: SC created an ECCD hub to provide on-site support to ICDS workers onpedagogy, classroom management, monitoring growth, health and nutritional status ofchildren.

WEST BENGAL: SC is providing ECCD services to children from 70 brick kilns.

Partnerships to ensure the effective delivery of Early Childhood

Development (ECD) services

–A success story

Theory of change

… build partnershipscollaborate with children, civil society organisations,

communities, governments and the private sector

to share knowledge, influence others and build capacity to

ensure children’s rights are met

… be the voiceadvocate and campaign for better practices and policies to

fulfil children's rights and to ensure that children’s voices

are heard (particularly those of children most marginalised

or living in poverty)

… be the innovatordevelop and prove evidence-based,

replicable breakthrough solutions to problems

facing children

… achieve results at scalesupport effective implementation of best practices,

programmes and policies for children, leveraging our

knowledge to ensure sustainable impact at scale

Creating lasting impact for children

Partnership approach

WHAT WAS THE GOAL?To ensure the effective delivery of preschoolservices and a smooth transition intoprimary school

HOW DID WE DO IT?Adopted a multi-pronged and multi-levelstrategy aimed at creating enabling learningenvironments for children

WHAT PARTNERSHIPS WERE ESTABLISHED?Established three key partnerships with:• The Government Departments of ICDS &

Education• Caregivers and the community at large• Civil society and academic partners

Project stakeholders – as project owners

Government Departments of ICDS &Education – State, District & Mandal

Staff in every ICDS Centre

Parents and other Caregivers of children & Community

Civil Society Organization, Academia

Project Objective

Provide access to a stimulating learning environment in early childhood programs

Improve learning outcomes of children in ICDS Centres

Strengthening local government and community structures, so that populations can

effectively support ICDS Centres as well as hold education authorities accountable for

quality facilities and learning

Partnership with the Government

PARTNERSHIP GOAL• Sustainability of the high quality learning environment beyond the project life• Scope to replicate this model at the district and state levels

APPROACH• Involvement in trainings/capacity building• Consultation on the provision of teaching learning & play materials• Advocacy and lobbying efforts to include preschool (for children between 3-6 years) as a

free and compulsory part of education

KEY HIGHLIGHTS• Recommended by the District Project Officer ICDS• Department’s adoption of Save the Children’s Early Literacy & Math approach, School

readiness in ICDS and Addressing Diversity.

Partnership with the Government

Partnership with Caregivers & Community

PARTNERSHIP GOAL• Bridge the distance between the ICDS service delivery mechanisms and the communities

they serve• Building ownership of the project

APPROACH• Approach allows mothers, other caregivers and the community at large to influence the

function and operation of the ICDS centres and the preschool• Provided mechanisms for a community-based monitoring systems that increases

responsiveness to the needs of the children in the ICDS centres.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS• Strengthened/established parents groups (including fathers groups)• Created local ownership of the project• Ensured the sustainable engagement by children and communities

Partnership with Caregivers & Community

Partnership with Caregivers & Community

Partnership with Civil Society

PARTNERSHIP GOAL• Strengthen capacity of Civil Society organizations and academic partners to lobby for the

National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy

APPROACH• Formation and strengthening of a District Action Group on ECD• Regular interface with the Right to Education (RtE) Task Force Group (District)• Convergence creation with Government & Academia

Key highlights:• Regular functioning of a District Action Group on ECD• Involvement with academia on research on ECD / ECE• Re-position ICDS Centres as vibrant child-friendly Early Childhood Development Centers

Partnership with Academia

Key highlights:

• The Centre for Early Childhood Development and Research (CECDR) was established at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi in February 2010 as a unique collaboration between JamiaMillia Islamia and Save the Children, India.

• The Centre aims to identify contemporary concerns in the field of Early Childhood Development (ECD) and undertake research, advocacy and capacity building.

• The larger aim of the Centre is to develop as a national resource in ECD. The Centre offers a Masters Programme in Early Childhood Development (ECD) and has also recently launched their PHD programme.

A snapshot of the project impact

Impact

Changes in the lives of children and young people

Changes in equity / non discrimination/ inclusion

Impact

Changes in participation of children and adults

In ICDS Centres

In Primary Schools

At the community

Impact

Changes in policies and practices affecting children’s and young people’s rights

Changes in civil societies’ and communities’ capacity to support children’s rights

“Save the Children is often told that its aims are impossible- that there has always been child

suffering and there always will be.

We know, it’s only impossible if we make it so. It’s only impossible if we refuse to attempt it”

-Eglantyne Jebb, Founder, Save the Children

THANK YOU

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