Key data on early childhood education and care in Europe - 2025

Every single child deserves a great start in life, and that is exactly what early childhood education and care (ECEC) is all about! It is not just a basic right; it is the launchpad for a lifetime of learning. Plus, when we invest in our youngest learners, we do something amazing: we help close the gap on social inequalities and make it much easier for moms and working parents to thrive in their careers.

That is why we are so excited to share the third edition of Key Data on Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe. Our big goal is to help build childcare and early education systems that are welcoming, affordable, and high-quality for everyone. Whether you are a policymaker, a researcher, or a parent, this report is packed with the insights and real-world examples you need to see what is working across Europe.

Here is a quick look at what you will find inside:

The big picture: The first half of the report connects the dots between how kids access these programs, how they are funded, who is teaching them, and how quality is measured. This year, we’ve added brand-new insights into inclusion, funding models, and teachers' working conditions and salaries. We have also updated the curriculum sections to tackle modern topics that matter to today's kids, like sustainability education, digital safety, and early foreign language learning.

A closer look by country: The second half takes you on a guided tour of 37 different European countries (including all 27 EU Member States, plus Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Türkiye). Each country has its own handy information sheet complete with easy-to-read structural diagrams.

Want a quick snapshot? Be sure to check out our system-level interactive visuals! They are a super simple way to explore how different countries are making the right to high-quality, affordable early education a reality for all children.

https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/publications/key-data-early-childhood-education-and-care-europe-2025

Data Fallacies Poster by Geckoboard

Statistical fallacies are common tricks data can play on you, which lead to mistakes in data interpretation and analysis. In our data-driven world, numbers are often treated as the ultimate truth. We rely on them to make business decisions, shape public policy, and understand the world around us. However, data is only as good as our interpretation of it. Without a watchful eye, it is remarkably easy to fall into psychological and mathematical traps that distort reality. Exploring some of these common fallacies, alongside their real-life examples, reveals exactly how these tricks happen and, more importantly, how you can avoid them in your own analysis.

Data is a powerful tool, but it is a tool that requires constant skepticism. Whether you are building corporate dashboards, reading the news, or launching a new project, avoiding statistical fallacies comes down to a few core habits: establish your hypotheses early, always visualize the raw shape of your data rather than relying solely on summary metrics, and remain intensely curious about what lies outside the frame of your chart. By understanding the tricks data can play, you can transform your analysis from a game of statistical illusions into a source of genuine insight.

It is truly eye-opening to see how easily numbers can lead us astray, and we have the team at Geckoboard to thank for putting together such a brilliant, accessible breakdown of these statistical traps. By shining a light on these fallacies with clear, real-world examples, they've provided an incredible resource that helps all of us become sharper, more skeptical, and ultimately more effective data storytellers.

https://www.geckoboard.com/uploads/Geckoboard-Data-Fallacies-Poster.pdf

Climate Visualized by CartoGuophy

The "Climate Visualized" webpage by CartoGuophy is an interactive, data-driven digital mapping tool designed by Atlas Guo that allows users to explore and analyze global climate patterns. 

By clicking on an interactive map or searching for specific cities and regions, users can instantly access real-time visual charts and graphs detailing a location's overall temperature fluctuations, monthly precipitation levels, and its Köppen Climate Classification. The map employs innovative visual glyphs that cleanly represent climate characteristics directly onto the geographic interface, making complex meteorological data easy to comprehend at a glance.

For teachers in an ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom, this webpage serves as a powerful utility for Task-Based Language Learning (TBLL) and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). 

Because the platform presents data through highly accessible, universal visual mediums like bar graphs, scatter plots, and line charts, it reduces the initial cognitive and text-heavy load for language learners, allowing them to focus on acquiring target vocabulary. Teachers can utilize the map to facilitate authentic communication and vocabulary building around specialized topics such as weather, geography, seasons, and environment-related adjectives like arid, humid, temperate, or frigid. For instance, instructors can set up jigsaw activities or comparative speaking tasks where students search for their home countries or dream travel destinations, read the resulting graphs, and practice comparative structures by presenting their findings to the class (e.g., "Tokyo is much wetter in June than Madrid"). 

Additionally, the ability to export charts and maps directly from the site provides teachers with excellent, customized visual prompts for English writing exercises, prompting students to practice descriptive writing and data analysis by translating isual metrics into cohesive English paragraphs.

https://cartoguophy.com/climate-visualized/

World Cup for Kids. Activityvillage.co.uk

Get ready to kick off the ultimate football adventure! The Activity Village World Cup for Kids webpage is a golden ticket to turning the massive excitement of the FIFA World Cup into an unforgettable, creative, and educational celebration for children.

Whether you are a parent looking to channel your child's high energy during the matches, or a teacher wanting to bring the global magic of the tournament straight into the classroom, this page is packed with inspiration!

Here is an energetic breakdown of the incredible resources waiting for you:

Ignite creativity with arts and crafts:

Massive colouring collections: Dive into a stadium full of brand-new World Cup and soccer-themed colouring pages! Kids can even step into the shoes of a fashion mogul and design their very own football kits.

Hands-on soccer crafts: From making a mini "blow football" game to crafting stadium bunting, these projects are perfect for rainy afternoons or setting the scene for a thrilling World Cup party.

Brain-boosting puzzles and worksheets:

Action-packed puzzles: Keep young minds sharp between matches with word searches, grid copies, scrambles, and logic puzzles that celebrate the beautiful game.

Themed worksheets: Transform math practice into a game with soccer-themed addition and subtraction sheets. There are even specialized biography pages about famous footballers to inspire reluctant readers and writers.

A Global education adventure:

The tournament features 48 teams spanning the globe, opening up a world of discovery!

Country resources: Explore fascinating facts, gorgeous photos, and country-specific projects for the historic co-hosts—the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Flag printables & bunting: Print out vibrant national flags to help kids decorate rooms, track tournament progress, and learn about the diverse nations competing on the world stage.

Mascot madness: Introduce children to the official tournament mascots—Maple the Moose (Canada), Zayu the Jaguar (Mexico), and Clutch the Bald Eagle (USA)—and let them flex their creative muscles with "Design a Mascot" worksheets!

Fun and interactive games:

Printable board games: Bring the competitive spirit home! Gather the family, small groups, or classmates to face off in printable soccer board games and multiplication math challenges.

Head over to the page, grab your printable resources, and let the games begin!

https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/world-cup-for-kids

Migration to and from the EU published by Eurostat

The article Migration to and from the EU published by Eurostat is an informative resource that presents official data and analysis on migration flows within the European Union and between the EU and the rest of the world. It explains key trends related to immigration, emigration, population movements, asylum applications, and the demographic impact of migration across European countries.

The article uses statistics, graphs, maps, and tables to show how migration patterns have changed over time and how different EU countries are affected by migration in different ways. It also clarifies important concepts such as immigration, emigration, net migration, foreign-born population, and international protection. Because the information comes from Eurostat, it is based on reliable and regularly updated official data.

For English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers, this resource offers an excellent opportunity to combine language learning with data literacy, critical thinking, and global citizenship education. Students can work with authentic texts written in formal but accessible English, expanding their vocabulary related to migration, demographics, society, and public policy.

The graphs and maps can be used to develop speaking and writing skills. For example, students can describe trends, compare countries, interpret statistics, and explain changes over time using language structures such as increase, decrease, higher than, lower than, according to the data, or the graph shows that. This makes the resource particularly useful for practising the language of description and interpretation.

The topic also lends itself to discussion and debate. Students can explore questions such as Why do people migrate?, What challenges and opportunities does migration create?, How does migration contribute to cultural diversity? or How should societies support newcomers? Such activities help learners develop communication skills while reflecting on contemporary social issues.

In addition, the resource can support project-based learning. Students might compare migration patterns in different European countries, investigate migration in their own region, create presentations based on Eurostat data, or analyse how migration is portrayed in the media compared with official statistics. These activities encourage learners to distinguish between evidence-based information and stereotypes, fostering both critical thinking and intercultural awareness.

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Migration_to_and_from_the_EU

ITUC Global Rights Index. Educational opportunities for ESL teaching

The ITUC Global Rights Index is an annual international report produced by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). It measures how well countries protect workers’ rights, including freedom of association, the right to join trade unions, collective bargaining, the right to strike, freedom of expression, and access to justice. The Index evaluates countries using a detailed methodology based on internationally recognised labour standards and evidence gathered from trade unions, legal experts, and national legislation. Countries are then classified on a scale from 1 (best protection of workers’ rights) to 5+ (no guarantee of rights due to the breakdown of the rule of law).

The resource is much more than a collection of statistics. Through interactive maps, country profiles, rankings, and annual reports, it provides a global picture of the state of workers’ rights and democratic freedoms. The 2025 edition highlights growing concerns about restrictions on freedom of association, collective bargaining, access to justice, and the right to strike in many parts of the world.

For English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching, the Global Rights Index offers many educational opportunities. First, it provides authentic and up-to-date English-language material related to human rights, social justice, employment, and global citizenship. Students can work with real-world vocabulary connected to labour rights, democracy, equality, migration, working conditions, and international organisations.

The interactive world map can be used to develop reading and speaking skills. Students can compare countries, analyse patterns, and discuss possible reasons behind differences in workers’ rights. Activities such as Which countries have the strongest protections?, Why do some regions perform better than others? or How are labour rights connected to democracy? encourage meaningful communication in English while developing critical thinking.

The resource is also particularly valuable for education in human rights and global citizenship. Learners can investigate how fundamental rights are protected in different parts of the world and examine the relationship between working conditions, economic development, social justice, and democratic participation. This makes it suitable for interdisciplinary projects combining English, Geography, History, Economics, and Citizenship Education.

Possible classroom activities include analysing a country's rating, preparing presentations on workers' rights in different regions, comparing annual reports, writing opinion essays on labour rights, creating infographics based on the data, or debating questions such as Should workers have the right to strike? or What makes a fair workplace?

https://www.ituc-csi.org/global-rights-index?lang=en