Britain: a complex mix of philosophy and politics

This chapter explores the complex picture of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Britain. The chapter begins with an exploration of the philosophies (and the pioneers) that have influenced approaches to working with children in the British context. Many of these pioneers represent the philanthropic history of ECEC provision in Britain. Pioneers have generally been selected as particular proponents of theories relating to young children’s early learning rather than as the first or most well-known figure in history. Yet while there is a common collection of ideas behind the provision of ECEC that can be traced through history, policy developments cannot be characterised in the same way. The nature of British politics and the lack of political interest in ECEC until relatively recently means that ECEC in Britain is characterised by fragmentation. Throughout the chapter we draw on case studies from the countries that form Britain. However, they are illustrative rather than exhaustive, and we recognise their limitations. For the sake of clarity, we refer to ECEC, but recognise (and later consider) the debates around the relationship between care and education in the British approach.