Early childhood education and care services (ECEC, ages 0–6) in Italy—particularly those for children under the age of 3—have seen growth over time in both the availability of places and participation rates among young children, although more slowly than in other European countries. Significant socioeconomic and territorial disparities persist, however, which—together with other barriers to access—disproportionately affect participation among children whose parents face economic and employment disadvantages, social vulnerability, or have a migrant background.
In some cases, as participation increases, these disparities actually widen. One example is the gap in participation among children under 3 from high-income versus low-income families in Italy, which has more than doubled over the past twenty years in favor of the former: the difference was 7.5 percentage points in 2005–06, when overall participation was still below 25%, but rose to 19 points in 2023–24, when around 35 out of 100 children in that age group attended nursery schools or similar services (see the chart below).
Italy’s ECEC therefore suffers from a lack of equity, although it is not the only one in Europe. In addition, attention to service quality in our country remains insufficient.
These are two concerning critical issues—especially in light of longstanding international research showing that participation in high-quality ECEC services can provide early support to strengthen cognitive, relational, and social skills, with long-term benefits across individuals’ life courses. These benefits are particularly evident for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping to reduce gaps in development, learning, and socialization.
This is perhaps the most significant finding of a comparative study on ECEC services in France, Germany, England, Spain, and Italy, promoted by the Fondazione Agnelli and conducted by a group of national and international researchers, coordinated by Francesca Bastagli (Head of Research, Fondazione Agnelli) and Emmanuele Pavolini (Professor of Economic Sociology, University of Milan). The study—representing the first output of the broader multi-year “Zero Sei” program of the Fondazione Agnelli—was released today in a summary report titled A Good Start: ECEC Systems in Italy and Europe.
The research stems from the awareness that the expansion and improvement of the quality of ECEC services are now strategic priorities for public policy in Europe. Three major issues are at stake in these efforts:
(i) children’s growth and development, alongside the reduction of inequalities;
(ii) the reconciliation of work and caregiving responsibilities, particularly to support female employment;
(iii) responses to declining birth rates, which make it increasingly important to better support families in their caregiving and educational responsibilities.
“Two priorities emerge from the research,” explained Francesca Bastagli. “First: expanding access to early childhood education and care services, particularly for children from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, who stand to benefit the most but are also at greater risk of exclusion. Second: promoting the quality of services. In pursuing these goals, countries face various policy ‘dilemmas’ or trade-offs, linked to the institutional structure of zero-to-six systems and to demographic and labor market changes. The comparative analysis identifies the main tensions, offering both a framework for understanding these issues and policy options to advance the early childhood education agenda.”
“Our analyses,” emphasized Andrea Gavosto, Director of the Fondazione Agnelli, “suggest that increasing participation and reducing inequalities cannot be achieved through expanding places alone. While expansion remains necessary—and we will soon see whether the PNRR reduces territorial disparities—it is not sufficient to ensure equitable access or improve quality. Policies must address access criteria, reduce the gap between parental leave and guaranteed placement, lower fees for low-income families, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.”
The press release and the summary document (in Italian) are attached below.
For more information on the comparative study: click here