Planning Policies Guidelines Review

I've been reading a material which might seem very useful for our needs. I would have wanted to move forward on identifying and/ or helping develop workshop materials for ECD benchmarks, theories, and best practices but I don't know what materials we already have and what materials need to be developed. Anyway, I just assumed that I'm working from zero, so this is one of the materials which I have identified and I'll outline some of its contents that we can use. I've decided to review seemingly good materials that I have already searched and see where they can be used rather than search and save/print haphazardly. I figured that this would be a better way to manage the knowledge that is already being accumulated.


Planning Policies for Early Childhood Development: Guidelines for Action
Emily Vargas-Barón
Available online at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001395/139545e.pdf

Because the material is a “tool kit,” it is a good guide book especially for a multi – sectoral working group who has to understand the basics of having to work in collaboration. The material works on the basic principles of participatory planning, integrated and life cycle approach to ECD.
Practical suggestions for conducting the five phases (Preparation; ECD Situation Analysis and Consultation Preparation; Community, Regional and National Consultations; Policy Drafts and Consensus Building; and Policy Approval and Adoption) of an ECD policy planning process follows after an introduction on all major areas of child survival and development.

Area/ Task/ Need:
Workshop Material for Early Childhood Development Benchmarks, Theories and Best Practices

Contents (From the Material):
The Needs and Justification for ECD Policies.......... 3
A Brief History of ECD Policy Development.......... 6
The Integrated Approach ................ 7
The Life Cycle Approach to ECD Policy Planning..... 9
Increasing Investment in Young Children...... 11
The Participatory Approach......... 12
Achieving Policy Alignment................ 13

Area/ Task/ Need:
Design and Implement a Baseline Assessment for ECD services and programming in Aceh/
Develop indicators for STC ECD Programming in Aceh

Contents (From the Material):
ECD Indicators Linked to MDGs..... 63
Policy Indicators (for content areas and policy assessment)..... 91


ECD Indicators Linked to MDGs
Goal 1 Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Target 2 under this MDG is: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. Target 2 includes the indicator: Prevalence of underweight children under five years of age. 47
Goal 2 Achieve universal primary education
Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. The indicators include: net enrolment ratio in primary education and the proportion of pupils starting grade one who reach grade five. Children need to be “ready for school” in all respects in order to enrol in and complete primary school, without grade repetition.
Goal 3 Promote gender equality and empower women
Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015. Indicators include: ratios of girls to boys in primary education that requires that girls be ready for school as well as boys.
Goal 4 Reduce child mortality
Reduce by two-thirds, between 1900 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate. The three indicators are: Under-five mortality rate; infant mortality rate, and the proportion of one-year-old children immunised against measles.
Goal 5 Improve maternal health
Reduce by three-quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio. The two indicators are: maternal mortality ratio and the proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel.
Goal 6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Target One: Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. Indicators include: HIV prevalence among pregnant women ages 15 to 24 and ratio of school attendance of orphans to school attendance of non-orphans ages 10 to 14. Clearly, prenatal education and care plus attention to children affected by HIV/AIDS needs to be a part of comprehensive National ECD Policies.
Target Two: Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases. Indicators include child-related measures of prevalence and death rates associated with malaria and tuberculosis as well as the proportion of the population in malaria risk areas using effective malaria prevent and treatment measures.
Goal 7 Ensure environmental sustainability
Target Two: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Indicators include: Proportion of population with sustainable access to an improved water source, urban and rural, and proportion of population with access to improved sanitation, urban and rural. Water and sanitation are essential areas for every National ECD Policy.
Policy Indicators (for content areas and policy assessment)
The purpose of this Annex is to help Planning Teams consider a wide range of indicators previously used in many nations and provinces for possible application in National ECD Policies. Several of the indicators also have been used in Poverty Reduction Strategies and in other multi-sectoral or sectoral policies, such as health, nutrition, sanitation, education, and children’s rights that include indicators related to young children and families. Some of the ECD indicators listed in this paper are used widely while others pertain mainly to certain situations in specific nations. The latter tend to be ECD indicators that are used in nations with severe resource constraints and major human development needs. This list is not intended to be exhaustive but rather to inspire reflection in each nation about which indicators
No nation would ever use all of these indicators because the list is too long, only a few of them will be needed, and it would be very expensive to gather so much data. Each Policy Planning Team must make a judicious selection of indicators for each age range and outcomes area. Indicators that are not on this list certainly can be added. At the end of the list, a few indicators are suggested for the evaluation of the policy itself. Others could be considered but these are central to achieving policy goals and objectives.


Examples of National-level Policy Indicators Used by Nations, by Life Cycle and by Special Theme
The list below is divided into indicators for specific age ranges or special populations:
• Zero to 36 Months
• 37 to 72 Months
• 73 to 96 Months
• Special Populations
• Indicators for Assessing Policy Implementation
In each age range or special population, it is important to consider each sector: health, nutrition, sanitation, education and juridical protection. The set of indicators for each age range is divided into the following types of outcomes:
• Child Outcomes
• Family or Community Outcomes
• Programme Service Outcomes
By dividing the indicators this way, it is possible for Policy Planning Teams to ensure they have selected appropriate indicators for each age range, sector and type of outcomes.
Several of the indicators listed below are ones that the Planning Team may wish to continue to measure through the next age range. The ones recommended for consideration for continuation are asterisked when they first appear in the list. They are not repeated in the next list although they may be added in the text of the policy.
Indicators for the Prenatal/Perinatal Period
Child Outcomes: Birth Outcomes
• Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000)
• Ratio of infant mortality rate of poorest quintile to infant mortality rate of least poor quintile
• Percent of infants with low birth weight (<2500 gm)
• Percent of infants born pre-term (<32 weeks)
• Percent of newborns with national identification number and birth data nationally registered
• Percent of newborns with a congenital malformation, hearing or visual impairment or other disability identified at birth or very shortly thereafter
Family or Community Outcomes: Maternal Outcomes
• Rate of pregnancies to girls 11 to 17 years of age
• Percent of pregnancies to single girls or women
• Percent of pregnancies to women living in poverty, in extreme poverty (national measures)
• Percent of women with anaemia or other vitamin or mineral deficiency during the prenatal period
• Maternal mortality rate
• Percent of infants who receive only breast milk for the first six months of life
Programme Service Outcomes
• Percent of pregnant women who begin receiving prenatal health and nutrition care and parenting education during first trimester
• Percent of pregnant women who receive all regularly scheduled prenatal checkups
• Percent of pregnant women who receive at least four home visits or group meetings on prenatal health, nutrition and parenting education before they give birth
• Percent of births attended by a trained and skilled health worker
• Percent of births taking place in a government or other quality health facility
• Percent of women who make at least three post-natal health and education visits in a health centre
• Percent of women receiving at least four home visits or group meetings on infant care and psycho-social stimulation, parenting, child development, health, nutrition before child is six months old*
• Percent of mothers informed about good infant feeding practices and who follow those practices*
Indicators for Zero to 36 Months
Child Outcomes
• Number and percent of children identified to be developmentally delayed or are at high risk of delay at certain ages (for example: three, six, nine, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months)
• Number and percent of children who achieve normal development by three, six, nine, 12, 18 and
36 months of age
• Percent of infants under six months (or 12 months) with vision or hearing problems
• Percent of infants and young children with complete DPT3 coverage
• Percent of infants and young children at 36 months who received all immunisations on time
• Percent of young children who consistently receive a breakfast*
• Percent of infants and children having enough vitamin A, vitamins and minerals, including iodine*
• Incidence of diarrhoea among children under 36 months of age (under 60 months of age)*
• Percent of mortality attributable to diarrhoea among children under 36 months (under 60 months)*
• Percent of mortality attributable to malaria among children under 36 months (under 60 months) *
• Percent of children under 36 months diagnosed with malaria (under 60 months) (or other disease)*
• Percent of children under 36 moderately or severely stunted (height for age) (under 60 months)*
• Percent of children under 36 months moderately or severely wasted (weight for height) (under 60 months)*
• Percent of children under 36 months moderately or severely underweight (weight for age) (under 60 months)*
• Number and percent of children identified to be malnourished whose growth curve improves*
Family or Community Outcomes
• Percent of mothers who maintain breastfeeding until six, 12, 18 months
• Percent of parents that maintain or develop good parenting skills (as measured by a parent observation scale)*
• Percent of parents who have a good knowledge of basic nutrition, health and child development stages and learning activities (as measured by a survey questionnaire)*
• Percent of mothers and fathers that state they feel greater support and ability as parents due to participating in early childhood programmes*
• Percent of mothers who completed primary school*
• Percent of parents who report that they read or tell stories to their children three to six times a week*
• Percent of parents who report that they have supportive networks and are able to access parenting advice and resources*
• Percent of families with young children with access to piped or protected clean water as their main drinking water source*
• Percent of households able to fetch clean water in under 30 minutes*
• Percent of families living at or below the basic needs poverty line*
• Number and percent of families with young children and no working parent*
• Number and percent of single mothers who are working*
• Number and percent of single mothers without work*
• Percent of families living at or below the food poverty line*
• Percent of districts reported to be food insecure*
• Percent of households who eat no more than one meal a day *
• Percent of absent fathers who provide adequate financial or material child support (as specified by national child support policy)*
• Total fertility rate*
• Number of reported cholera cases (or other prevalent disease)*
• Life expectancy*
Programme Service Outcomes
• Number and percent of children whose development is screened or assessed at three, six, nine, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months (assessment instrument required)
• Number and percent of infants and children identi.ed with developmental delays or at high risk of becoming delayed served by community parent education and child stimulation programmes*
• Number and percent of children receiving services for a developmental delay or a high-risk condition who are tracked and followed up until 36 months of age (48 or 60 months)*
• Number and percent of children screened for vision and hearing before 24 months
• Percent of parents participating in some form of early learning programmes (e.g. home visiting
programmes, family or centre-based child care, family resource centres, or others)*
• Availability of family resource centres or similar parent education and support services for families per city, town or village*
• Number of community educators trained and who teach health, nutrition and child development*
• Number and percent of communities with trained community educators*
• Number and percent of families served by each/all community educators*
• Number and percent of children zero to 36 months served by community educators (37 to 60 months)*
• Number of outpatient health visits per child per annum*
• Percent of children receiving primary health care and well-baby checkups according to schedule*
• (Alternative) Percent of children who have had a physical examination or well-child visit during the interval recommended for their age group*
• Number and percent of children with a well-child check-up booklet*
• Number and percent of malnourished children whose parents receive appropriate services*
• Total number of family planning acceptors*
• Percent of mothers reporting to be satisfied with health services for them and their children*
• Number of radio and/or television programmes with messages regarding parent education, early child development, health and nutrition*
• Number and percent of infants and children zero to 36 months who receive quality child care
Indicators for 37 to 72 Months
Child Outcomes
• Number and percent of children 48 and 60 months who are screened or assessed and identi.ed to be delayed in their development or at high risk of delay
• Number and percent of children who achieve normal development by 48 and 60 months of
• Child mortality rate (under 60 months of age)
• Percent of children with severe developmental delays or disabilities receiving special education
programmes*
Family or Community Outcomes
• Percent of families that report they have access to quality child care or preschools
• Percent of families that report their children are safe from accidents and protected before and after child care or preschool
Programme Service Outcomes
• Number and percent of children whose development is assessed at 48 months and 60 months (assessment or screening instrument required)
• Number and percent of children requiring quality child care or preschool who receive care
• Total number of child care centre slots (places)
• Total number of preschool slots (places)
• Total number of child care centres
• Total number of licensed child care centres
• Total number of preschools
• Total number of licensed preschools
• Total number of child care centres using age-appropriate curriculum for holistic child development
• Total number of preschools using an age-appropriate curriculum for holistic child development
• Total number of child care centres repaired and upgraded
• Total number of preschools repaired and upgraded
• Number and percent of child care centres or preschools with functioning latrines
• Number and percent of child care centres or preschools with access to abundant clean water
• Number and percent of child care centres that are assessed to be of acceptable quality (according to a scale including: age-appropriate curriculum, methods, suf.cient trained staff, suf.cient learning materials, adequate building and equipment, etc.)
• Number and percent of preschools that are assessed to be of acceptable quality (according to a scale including: age-appropriate curriculum, methods, suf.cient trained staff, suf.cient learning materials, adequate building and equipment, etc.)
• Number and percent of children in family child care by single year, by age, sex and region
• Number and percent of children in publicly funded and regulated family child care by single year, age, sex and region
• Number and percent of children in a child care centre by single year, age, sex and region
• Number and percent of children in a preschool by single year, age, sex and region
• Number and percent of children in publicly funded and regulated child care centre by single year, age, sex and region
• Number and percent of children in publicly funded and regulated preschool by single year, age, sex and region
• Number and percent of children requiring quality child care or preschool services who receive them, by age, sex and region
• Number and percent of child caregivers who receive at least 10 days (80 hours) of in-service training each year
• Number and percent of preschool teachers who receive at least 10 days (80 hours) of in-service training each year
• Number and percent of child caregivers and preschool teachers who have completed formal training, as specified by national guidelines
• Number and percent of caregivers and teachers trained and certified for providing services to children with malnutrition, low birth weight, developmental delays and chronic ill health
• Percent of annual staff turnover of caregivers in child care centres
• Percent of annual staff turnover of caregivers in preschool centres
• Average caregiver duration in post
• Number and percent of family child care homes that have received of.cial recognition
• Number and percent of trained directors of child care centres
• Number and percent of trained directors of preschools
• Number and percent or family child care homes assessed as acceptable (quality assessment scale)
• Ratio of children to trained staff in family child care homes
• Ratio of children to trained staff in child care centres
• Ratio of children to trained staff in preschools
• Average hourly cost per child enrolled in family child care homes
• Average hourly cost per child enrolled in child care centres
• Average hourly cost per child enrolled in preschools or
• Average daily or weekly cost per child of full day family child care
• Average daily or weekly cost per child of full day child care centre services
• Average daily or weekly cost per child of full day preschool services
Indicators for 73 to 96 Months
Child Outcomes
• Percent of children assessed to be “ready for school” with age-appropriate skills and behaviour, by age, sex and region (assessment instrument required)
• Percent of children entering primary school with one or more years of preschool, by sex/region
• Net primary school enrolment rate
• Gross primary school enrolment rate
• Girl/boy ratio in primary school
• Percent of children identified upon school entry to have developmental disabilities or delays
• Rate of school attendance
• Percent of children with mother tongue that is not the national language who receive their first instruction in their mother tongue
• Percent of children who pass the first, second and third grades
• Percent of children who repeat one or more grades before completing third year of primary school
• Percent of children who are at or above grade level in reading by the end of third year of school
• Percent of children who are at or above grade level in mathematics by end of third year of school
• Percent of children who drop out of school by age, sex and region
• Percent of children who complete primary school
• Percent of students passing the Primary School Leavers’ Exam
• Percent of children in the labour force and not going to school
• Percent of children fully immunised at school entry
Family or Community Outcomes
• Percent of parents that state they have developed positive relationships with local schools, child care providers and health facilities
• Percent of parents that report they have become involved in the schooling of their children
• Percent of parents reporting they contribute to the development of their child’s school
• Percent of parents who consider their children to be safe before and after school
Education and Programme Service Outcomes
• Percent of primary schools that screen or assess children’s school readiness at school entry
• Ratio of students per teacher
• Ratio of students per class
• Percent of children identi.ed to have developmental disabilities or delays who receive inclusive special education services in the schools
• Rate of school attendance
• Percent of primary schools with high drop out rates
• Percent of primary schools with high repetition rates
• Percent of primary schools with low levels of primary school completion
• Percent of primary schools assessed to have quality learning environment (observation scale)
• Number and percent of primary schools with functioning latrines
• Number and percent of primary schools with access to abundant clean water
• Percent of primary schools that have a parent orientation programme for the school year, especially for the first year of school
• Percent of primary schools whose teachers make at least one home visit per year
• Percent primary schools that report they work with families to support learning
• Percent of primary schools with parent involvement policies and activities
• Percent of primary schools with children in special education that provide family support
• Percent of primary schools offering family support services
• Percent of primary schools providing school feeding programmes (specify breakfast and/or lunch)
Indicators for Special Populations
• Rate of substantiated child abuse or neglect (per 1000)
• Number and percent of abused or neglected children whose parents receive parenting education and family support and counselling
• Rate of reported cases of family violence where children are present in the family (per 100,000)
• Number and percent of families with violence receiving counselling and parenting education
• Rate of reported cases of maternal depression
• Number and percent of women identified to be depressed that receive support to meet their needs,
counselling and parenting education
• Number and percent of children, three to eight years of age identified to be in child labour
• Number and percent of children ages three to eight years in child labour who enter child development
programmes to prepare for school entry or are placed in primary school
• Number and percent of children affected by war or living in displaced families
• Number of children affected by war or living in displaced families who receive appropriate trauma, child development and parent education services
• Number and percent of children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS
• Number and percent of AIDS orphans
• Number and percent of HIV/AIDS infected or affected children who receive early child development services
• Number and percent of children identified to be begging in the streets
• Number and percent of former beggar children who are placed in good care or homes
Indicators for Policy Assessment
• Annual ECD Action Plan prepared, reviewed, approved and adopted
• Structures for implementing, co-ordinating, monitoring, evaluating and revising ECD Policy established and functioning (national, regional/provincial and district/community levels by phases)
• Policy Implementation and Evaluation Unit established and conducting all expected roles successfully
• Priority ECD programmes designed, augmented or improved according to Policy and Action Plan
• ECD Training Plan designed and functioning in accordance with the Annual ECD Action Plan
• Policy Advocacy and Social Communications Plan designed and implemented according to Annual ECD
Action Plan
• Donor and Partnership Co-ordination Plan implemented according to schedule
• Investment Plan implemented and additional investments made according to plan
• Data for assessing the achievement of Policy indicators collected, analyzed and disseminated widely and used for preparation of next Annual ECD Action Plan
• Consultations and consensus meetings for the preparation of next Annual ECD Action Plan designed, convened and reported
• Second Annual ECD Action Plan prepared, reviewed, approved and adopted