EDUCATIONAL POLICY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: FOUNDATIONS, IMPORTANCE, AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

The article discusses the importance of educational policies aimed at Early Childhood Education in Brazil, recognized as the first stage of Basic Education and a right guaranteed by legal documents and regulations. Throughout history, daycare centers have undergone many transformations, evolving from welfare-oriented spaces into educational environments, where children came to be understood as individuals with rights and protagonists of their own development. The text emphasizes the importance of play, interactions, and experiences lived in Early Childhood Education, and is based on the ideas and theories of renowned scholars such as Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. It also highlights the fundamental role of teachers, whose training and professional recognition are essential to ensure quality pedagogical practices. Although there have been legal advances and new perspectives on this topic, many challenges still remain for the effective implementation of the studied practices, such as the lack of vacancies in institutions, inadequate infrastructure, social inequalities, and the devaluation of education professionals. Therefore, strengthening public policies, investing in teacher education, and expanding the partnership between school, family, and the State are indispensable to ensure a fairer, more inclusive, and higher-quality Early Childhood Education for all children.