
Program
Tuesday, June 30
Opening Ceremony
Stop 1
Live Session
from 4 to 4:30 pm
Introduction: Rudolph HIDALGO, President, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
Welcome address: Gabriela RAMOS, OECD Chief of Staff and Sherpa to the G20
Perspectives on children’s rights: Geneviève AVENARD, French Children’s Ombudsman
Witness: Dr. Boris CYRULNIK,
Child Psychiatrist and neurologist
What lessons have we learnt from crisis? How can we build better resilience? Is everything related? What is the impact on child development ? Building tomorrow with accountability and humanity...
from 4:30 to 6 pm
“HOW IS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & CARE DOING TODAY?”
What should be the balance between risks factors (which we are currently living with) and protective factors, such as knowledge that we can co-construct? How high is the quality of ECEC at present? Given the current Covid-19 context, what are the upcoming challenges and opportunities? What currently prevents quality?
Facilitators:
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Nathalie CASSO-VICARINI, General Delegate, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
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Geneviève BELISLE, Executive Director, Association Québécoise des Centres de la Petite Enfance (AQCPE)
Speakers:
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Guri MELBY, Minister of Education and Integration (Norway)
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Mathieu LACOMBE, Minister of Family (Québec, Canada)
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Adrien TAQUET, Secretary of State in charge of Child Protection, Ministry of Solidarities and Health (France)
PODCASTS VIDEOS
“QUALITY BEYOND REGULATIONS: CARING FOR CARERS IN THOSE FIRST
MONTHS OF AN INFANT’S LIFE”
The speakers will discuss how the insights of John
Bowlby and similar pioneers can combine with our
deepening understanding of the science of epigenetics to guide us to wise and loving
approaches to quality beyond regulation during the
pandemic and its aftermath.
Introduction: Catherine WEST, UK Member of Parliament and Co-chair of Foundation Years and Information Research (FYIR)
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Dr. Rob HALE, Psychiatrist, formerly
Director of the Tavistock and Portman
Trust -
Dr Amanda JONES, Consultant Perinatal Psychotherapist
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Dr Sebastian KRAEMER, Consultant
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the
Whittington Hospital, North London

Live Session
“YES I CAN: QUALITY IS AND SHOULD BE EVERYONE’S BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY IN A CRISIS”
The current Covid-19 context will have significant impact on economies. Considering this crisis in a holistic way, is ECEC a priority? What will be the impact on our economies and societies ? What should we expect in this harsh situation ?
Facilitator:
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Nathalie CASSO-VICARINI, General Delegate, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
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Aurélia RABE, Director, International Resources, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
Speakers:
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Pr. Costas MEGHIR, Douglas A. Warner III Professor of Economics, Yale University
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Christian PARADIS, Chair of OECD Network on Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)
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Dr. Kate MORIARTY, Senior Advisor for Strategic Engagement and Dialogue, Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE)
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Pr. Georges TARABULSY, Professor in psychology, University of Laval (Canada)

PODCASTS VIDEOS
“WHAT NEW PARADIGM IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN EUROPE?”
The European Union recently adopted a European framework for the quality of early childhood education and care; what is it, and how can we implement it in a context of health and economic crisis?
Géraldine LIBREAU, Policy Officer for ECEC European Commission
“INVESTING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD MUST BE THE REALITY”
This podcast will discuss the economics of human development and the importance of investing early in childhood for promoting later life labor market and social outcomes. Rebalancing investment towards the earliest years will become even more important in the aftermath of the pandemic to ensure a closing rather than a widening of socio economic inequalities.
Orla DOYLE, Associate Professor, UCD School of Economics

Programme
Live Session
“DO AND ACT AROUND A COMMON LANGUAGE”
Another world is possible: making a powerful impact onsociety. How can we illustrate different ways of thinking and acting ? Which common language can we speak at the end ?
What intergenerational bond should we cherish ? Getting social and regulatory norms moving for better ECEC quality: where and how far can I act ?
Facilitator:
Yuri BELFALI, Head of Division, Early Childhood and Schools, OECD Directorate for Education and Skills
Speakers:
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Pr. Georges TARABULSY Professor in psychology,University of Laval (Canada)
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Bernard KALICKI, Head of Department, Children and Childcare German Youth Institute, Chair of the advisory group of the OECD TALIS Starting Strong
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Anne HOLLONDS, Director, Australian Institute of Families Studies
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Patrick DUMOULIN, President, Great Place to Work France
PODCASTS VIDEOS
“WHICH DESIGN FOR CHANGE?”
Kiran BIR SETHI, Founder of the Riverside School and Design For Change
“A MODEL INVOLVING DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS”
Marcel FIERZ, Programme Head QualiKita, an initiative from KibeSuisse and Jacobs Foundation

Program
Live Session
“TOMORROW BELONGS TO US: BUILDING TOGETHER A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY”
The current crisis reveals that we need to break out beyond ourselves. Which kind of social contract can we co-construct to create a fulfilling environment for children ? What individual and collective commitments can we take ? How can we bridge the gap between awareness and long-term actions ?
Facilitator
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Tove MOGSTAD SLINDE, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
Speakers
Cecilia VACA JONES, Executive director at Bernard Van Leer Foundation
Gabrielle SINCLAIR, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality
Authority (ACECQA)
Rokhaya DIAWARA, Programme Specialist, ECCE, Education sector, UNESCO
PODCASTS VIDEOS
“AN INNOVATIVE PATH FORWARD”
Tracey BURNS, Senior Analyst, OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation
“CREATING A HEALTHY AND PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CHILDREN”
Textiles, furniture, toys, diapers, food, hygiene and
cleaning products... endocrine disruptors are hiding in
many common articles. Even in small doses, their
impact on overall health and brain development is now
well established. Whether in the hospital, daycare
setting, out and about or at home, how can you protect
yourself and your little ones from these chemical risks?
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Isabelle FILLIOZAT, Psychotherapist and writer
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Barbara DEMEINEX, Endocrinologist, CNRS Research Director
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Pr. Laurent STORME, Pediatrician, CHU Lille
Program
Live Session
“THE CHILD BEST INTERESTS, ABOVE ALL, AT THE HEART OF QUALITY”
To what extent do we prioritize the best interests of children and place them at the very heart of educational quality from the very early years? How do we respond to the needs and well-being of children ?
Welcome (14:00-14:13):
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Rudolph HIDALGO, President, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
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Opening address: Stefania GIANNINI, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Opening address (14:13-14:20):
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Nathalie CASSO-VICARINI, General Delegate, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
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Geneviève BELISLE, Executive Director, Association Québécoise des Centres de la Petite Enfance
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Isabelle VINET, Executive Director, Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development
Live session | “The child best interests, above all, at the heart of quality” (14:20-15:15):
To what extent do we prioritize the best interests of children and place them at the very heart of educational quality from the very early years? How do we respond to the needs and well-being of children? We often speak about the child – parents – professionals’ triad, how can they all be supported, while keeping the child interest in the center of all concerns. How can we maintain the balance, especially during this uncertain period of Covid-19 pandemic? Concrete illustrations from child protection, vulnerable populations will provide some avenues for thinking and acting individually and collectively.
Introduction video – Testimonial | Françoise BRENIENEK, Maison des Parents Arras
Panel Discussion
Facilitator:
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Aurélia RABE, Director International Resources, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
Speakers:
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Mihaela IONESCU, Program Director, International Step by Step (ISSA)
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André LEBON, Vice-President, Commission Laurent in Québec, Canada
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James CAIRNS, Senior Director for Strategic Engagements and Organizational Learning, Harvard Center on the Developing Child (HCDC
Virtual visit of “It takes a village to raise a child” | Early Childhood and Parenting Train (15:15-15:20) : Nathalie CASSO-VICARINI, General Delegate, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
Raising a child is a shared responsibility of the large community of stakeholders. That means that an entire community of people must interact individually and collectively interact for those young children to experience and grow their potential in a safe and healthy environment. As part of the Early Childhood and Parenting journey in which 4 themes (“Being born and forging connections”, “Playing and communicating”, “Enjoying a positive experience of daily life”, “Act early”) have been already displayed, a virtual tour will bring us to the 5th and final theme in an innovative digital environment.
College “Ensemble for Childhood” | An approach based on “act locally, impact globally » with on-the-ground initiatives at the city level (15:20-15:50):
A French-based pluridisciplinary college, raised end 2019 after a study trip in Québec, has been since then a strong advocacy voice at municipality level, in order to promote child interest across the political divide, as a national priority. Their local on-the-ground initiatives do highlight the educational quality, a preventive approach embedded in all children’s life pathways. They also highlight practices inspired from Québec, with adjustments made to adapt cultural French-based context/practices and each territory needs.
Introduction – Video from the College members
Discussion:
Facilitators:
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Didier BODEL, Board member and Co-Founder, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
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Brigitte COLLET, Pediatrician and former Bordeaux city Counsellor in charge of Early Childhood
Cross-cultural perspectives France-Québec | Professional practices (15:50-16:05) :
Discussion:
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Sandra LODDO, Director Training, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
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Karine ROBERT, Teacher at the Department "Techniques d'éducation à l''enfance", CEGEP Marie-Victorin
General Assembly on Children’s Rights | Youth takes the floor (16:05-16:53):
A session initiated by our partner COFRADE (« Conseil Français des Associations pour les Droits de l’Enfant ») that invites us to a perspective of children’s eyes
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Welcome | Armelle LE BIGOT-MACAUX, President COFRADE
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Opening remarks | Adrien TAQUET (video)
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State of the play | Movie
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Voice from the 4 regions |Reunion Island, Occitanie, Auvergne RhôneAlpes,
Ile-de-France
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Synthesis of youth proposal | Cofrade Youth Council
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Policy makers’ feedback of youth proposal
-Florence PROVENDIER, Member of French Parliament
-Alexandra LOUIS, Member of French Parliament
-Perrine GOULET, Member of French Parliament
-tbd
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High level Witness | Claire HEDON, Commissionner for Human Rights
International perspectives (16:53-16:56): Yuri BELFALI, Head of Division, Early Childhood and Schools, OECD Directorate for Education and Skills
Conclusions :
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Nathalie Casso-Vicarini, General Delegate and co-founder, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
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Geneviève AVENARD, Ex-Défenseure des Enfants, France
Closing address : Rudolph HIDALGO, President, Ensemble for Early Childhood Education
Musical Closing (17:06): With Pierre-Yves PLAT (piano), Emma PLAT and Isabelle MORIN (singers)
PODCASTS VIDEO
“FROM SCIENCE TO ACTION: SUPPORTING A CHANGE IN PRACTICES AND ENSURING QUALITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FORYOUNG CHILDREN”
Despite scientific findings supporting the importance of providing quality environments for preschoolers and bringing a better understanding of what can be done, the quality of 4-year-old kindergartens in Quebec remains generally low. In response to this observation, Christa Japel and her colleague France Capuano have developed continuous training aimed at improving the quality of the educational environment frequented by young children.
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Isabelle VINET,Executive Director, Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development
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Christa JAPEL, Professor, Education and specialized training, University of Québec in Montreal