2. Early Childhood Education in Israel: Improving Preschool Quality Monica Winokur ECEC Session OECD Seminar - Caesarea November 2011 State of Israel Ministry of Education Pedagogic Administration Preschool Education Division

3. Preschool Education in Israel Preschool Classrooms = 13,000 Preschool Children 3-6 = 388,000

4. Vision High quality education and care accessible to all young children, enhancing development and providing equal opportunities for learning; leading to purposeful and fulfilling lives for each individual and for society as a whole.

5. Challenges Demography: waves of newcomers - immigration different ethnic groups diverse orthodox religious affiliations Hostilities: wars, constant missile and terror attacks Split ministerial responsibility 3 Ministries in charge of ECEC 0 -3

6. Establish a national curriculum Improve teaching workforce Implement the “New Horizon” preschool educational reform Provide access to free preschool from age 3 Integrate early childhood education 0-6 Mission

7. Core curriculum programs Preschool Educational Practice Guidelines Curricular support materials Activities to broaden children’s experiences Curriculum Tools to monitor children’s participation and progress Early childhood intervention programs

8. Partnerships with families and communities

9. Provide a longer school day Restructure teaching\learning models Involve parents and communities Require on-going workforce training Raise teachers’ salary “New Horizon” Preschool Reform

10. Only qualified kindergarten teachers are heads of staff Continual improvement of workforce through participation in OJT courses devised and implemented by the Ministry Pedagogical Trainers help teachers develop and implement pedagogical processes and curriculum Preschool Education Supervisors are in charge of evaluation Improve teaching workforce

11. Compulsory free preschool education is determined by law for all children aged 5 Until now it includes 3 and 4 years old in defined low socio-economic areas comprising 47% of preschoolers that age Next school year all 3-4 children will access free compulsory education Free Preschool Education

12. Recommendation – ECEC 0-6 under the Ministry of Education Planning and Implementation of the transition – Preschool Division Integration of ECEC 0-6

14. Preschool Education in Israel

15. Core curriculum programs

16. Preschool Education Practice Guidelines

17. Curricular support materials

18. Activities to broaden children experience

19. Mabatim - systematic observation of children in their preschool environment

20. MA’AGAN program A multidisciplinary early intervention program intended to address special needs of young children, within their educational settings, in order to ensure their optimal participation in the wide range of proposed activities. Children are referred for treatment by specialized practitioners when considered necessary

21. Preschool Education Practice Guidelines Emphasis on quality interactions leading to optimal preschool climate: a social-educational environment that is safe, supportive, equalitarian and provides children with a sense of security to explore and actively learn, fostering their personal development.