Research for EPIC, the European Platform for Investing in Children

  • A group of small school kids with teacher sitting on the floor in class, photo by Halfpoint/Adobe Stock

    Building a better understanding of the impact of early childhood education and care

    This research note examines the medium- and long-term impact of early childhood education and care (ECEC) provision on education and labour market outcomes for children and parents, as well as the indicators employed for these measurements.

    27 Jan 2022

  • Mother working at home on laptop while child looks at mobile phone, photo by Andor Bujdoso/Adobe Stock

    Juggling work and childcare during COVID-19

    This report examines policies introduced in 2020 by ten EU member states that aimed to support working parents during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and takes stock of their common features and impact.

    11 Jan 2022

  • Schoolchildren enjoying their lunch in a school cafeteria, photo by Monkey Business Images/Adobe Stock

    Provision of school meals across the EU

    One goal of the European Commission is to provide all children in the EU with adequate nutrition. Researchers examined the rationales underpinning school meal programmes across the EU, the barriers and facilitators of school meal programmes, and what the evidence says about the outcomes of school meal programmes.

    01 Oct 2021

  • Pediatrician showing cartoon on tablet for his little patient, photo by Viacheslav Lakobchuk/Adobe Stock

    Homeless children and young people: A review of interventions supporting access to healthcare services

    Researchers examined the challenges that homeless children and family face in accessing healthcare, interventions aimed at supporting their access to healthcare, and facilitators of these interventions in this report aimed at policy makers.

    13 Sep 2021

  • Children participate in outdoor extracurricular activity, photo by Monkey Business Images/Adobe Stock

    Benefits of extracurricular activities for children

    Extracurricular activities are generally viewed as a way to enable children to become active citizens in their community and develop soft skills. This research note summarises the existing evidence on their benefits, their ability to support social inclusion, and the ways providers can support disadvantaged children to access them.

    09 Jun 2021

  • Young Black father reading to toddler, photo by monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images

    The childcare gap in EU member states

    In many EU member states, there is a period in which families with young children are unable to benefit from well-compensated childcare leave or a guaranteed place in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). Researchers examined policies in place to address this childcare gap.

    08 Mar 2021

  • Hands of children holding pieces of jigsaw puzzle

    Sexuality education across the European Union

    This policy memo maps the existing evidence and research on the nature of sexuality education that young people across the European Union receive.

    22 Feb 2021

  • Closeup of woman hugging teenage girl, photo by SeventyFour/Getty Imageswith care and love,

    Children and mental health: Preventive approaches to anxiety and depression

    A summary of findings from twelve systematic reviews and meta-analyses on interventions aimed at preventing the development of anxiety and depression in children. The research note discusses what works well and what areas require further research before definite conclusions about their effectiveness can be drawn.

    10 Feb 2021

  • Dad feeding baby while working from home on laptop computer at dining room table, photo by Inti St. Clair/Adobe Stock

    Developments in Child and Family Policy in the EU in 2019

    This third annual trend report outlines and summarises new policy developments in the area of child and family policy in the 27 EU member states and the UK during 2019. The report provides information on key trends that took place in relation to the provision of early childhood education and care, family leave and actions to improve work-life balance, social and income support for families, and children's right to participation.

    01 Dec 2020

  • Students teasing a fellow pupil, photo by WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock

    Anti-bullying practices from the repository of the European Platform for Investing in Children

    The European Platform for Investing in Children (EPIC) collects and disseminates innovative and evidence-based practices that have a positive impact on children and families in EU member states. This report showcases a selection of practices collected by EPIC that focus on anti-bullying interventions.

    01 Dec 2020

  • Preschool children and teacher playing with xylophone, photo by Bernard Bodo/Adobe Stock

    Strengthening the quality of early childhood education and care through inclusion

    Ensuring effective access to quality early childhood education and care for all remains a challenge in Europe, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This policy memo helps decision makers better understand this challenge and suggests some possible solutions.

    16 Jun 2020

  • Family returning home, opening front door, photo by Monkey Business Images/Adobe Stock

    Understanding the housing conditions experienced by children in the EU

    The provision of quality and affordable housing is an important mechanism for tackling child poverty, promoting the social inclusion of children and minimising the risk of homelessness among children in the EU. Actions taken by EU countries and at the European level can improve the situation.

    10 Apr 2020

  • Illustration of traditional and nontraditional families, photo by ONYXprj/Adobe Stock

    Leave policies and practice for non-traditional families

    This policy memo provides an introduction to the access that parents in adoptive families, reconstituted families (families with step-parents and step-children), and families with same-sex parents have to different types of family leave in each of the EU member states.

    16 Aug 2019

  • Children seated on floor of elementary school classroom, photo by Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock

    Embedding a children’s rights perspective in policy and decision-making

    This policy memo provides an overview of the extent to which children’s rights are promoted and taken into account in national and EU policies and practice. The memo also discusses ways in which policies and wider initiatives facilitate children’s participation in decisions about their future.

    08 Aug 2019

  • Rearview shot of a young woman and her daughter having a conversation on the porch, photo by shapecharge/Getty Images

    Mechanisms supporting single parents across the EU

    Single-parent families are among the most financially vulnerable groups in society, with 47% of single-parent households at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU in 2017. This memo presents trends and risks for single parents across the EU, and provides an overview of existing support mechanisms.

    05 Aug 2019

  • Happy mother hugging young daughter, photo by fizkes/Adobe Stock

    Positive parenting interventions

    Parenting interventions share a broad aim of improving children’s health, wellbeing and behaviour, through the training and education of parents. In this policy memo, researchers explore the effectiveness of parenting interventions across different settings, why they are important, and how they can accessed.

    02 May 2019

  • Cute kids with special needs playing with developing toys while sitting at the desk in daycare center

    Access to quality education for children with special educational needs

    Researchers conducted an overview of the policy and practice of EU countries in ensuring access to quality education for children with special educational needs. They set out the policy framework and main approaches taken by member states, identify key challenges for policy-makers and practitioners, and highlight examples of practices from across the EU.

    23 Jan 2019

  • Father with his baby daughter working from home

    Family-Friendly Workplaces: Overview of Policies and Initiatives in Europe

    EU citizens face significant challenges in balancing their professional and family lives. Family-friendly workplaces allow employees flexibility both in their working hours and location of work. This policy memo provides an overview of policies and initiatives in EU member states supporting family-friendly workplaces

    09 Oct 2018

  • Mother cuddling toddler son in kitchen

    Changes in Child and Family Policies in the EU28 in 2017

    This report outlines changes and new developments during the past year in the area of child and family policies across the EU member states. It is aligned with the 2013 Recommendation ’Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage’ and its key indicators to measure progress.

    03 Aug 2018

  • Father kisses baby son on cheek

    Paternity and Parental Leave Policies Across the European Union

    Researchers provide an overview of the current paternity and parental leave provisions across EU states, and examine these provisions against the changes proposed within the framework of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the proposal for a Directive on Work-Life Balance for Parents and Carers.

    25 Jul 2018