NATIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD
        CARE AND EDUCATION (ECCE)
         CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
                   MINISTRY OF WOMEN
                   AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
        
                                  
                                  
                                 Contents                                                                                                                          Page No 
                                 Background for the ECCE Curriculum Framework…….................................................2 
                                 SECTION I: Foundation of Early Care and Learning                                                           
                                 1.          Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………4 
                                 1.1                     Growing Up in India…………………………………………………………………………4 
                                 1.2                     Vision for an Indian Child…………………………………………………………………..6 
                                 1.3   Rationale for ECCE…………………………………………………………………………8 
                                 1.4   Theoretical Foundation……………………………………………………………………..8
                                       
                                 2.          Objectives of Early Childhood Care and Education…………………………………………......10 
                                 3.          Principles of Early Learning and Development…………………………………………………...10 
                                             and its implications for Practice 
                                 4.          Curricular Issues and Concerns……………………………………………………………………14 
                                 4.1                     Multilingualism………………………………………………………………………………14 
                                 4.2   Inclusion……………………………………………………………………………………..16 
                                 4.3                     Multi- Age Grouping………………………………………………………………………..17 
                                 4.4   Gender Equality…………………………………………………………………………….18 
                                 4.5                     Harms of Early Formal Instruction………………………………………………………..20 
                                 4.6   Preparing ECCE Teachers/Caregivers…………………………………………………..21 
                                 4.7   School Readiness…………………………………………………………………………..23 
                                  
                                 SECTION II: Goals of Early Care and Learning  
                                 5.          Domains of Development……………………………………………………………………………25 
                                 5.1                     Birth – Three Years…………………………………………………………………………25 
                                 5.2   Three -Six Years…………………………………………………………………………….27 
                                  
                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                 6.          Pedagogical Approaches to Principles of Programme planning………………………………...30
                                 7.          Guiding Principles of Programme Planning………………………………………………………..32 
                                 7.1                     Birth to Three Years: Focus on Care and Stimulation…………………………………..32 
                                 7.2                     Suggestive Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Birth to Three years………..36 
                                 7.3                     Three to Six years: Focus on Care, Early Learning and Readiness…………………..38 
                                 7.4                     Suggestive Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Three to Six years………….41 
                                  
                                 SECTION III: Programme Planning and Practices  
                                 8.          Early Learning Environment…………………………………………………………………………43 
                                 8.1                     Setting up and Early Years Classroom…………………………………………………...44 
                                 8.2                     Learning/ Activity Centres………………………………………………………………….45 
                                 8.3   Displays on Walls…………………………………………………………………………...48 
                                 8.4   Furniture and Mats………………………………………………………………………….48 
                                 8.5   Shelves and Storage……………………………………………………………………….48 
                                 8.6   Grouping……………………………………………………………………………………..48 
                                 9.          Essential Learning and Play Material………………………………………………………………49 
                                 9.1   Indoor Materials……………………………………………………………………………..50 
                                 9.2   Outdoor Materials…………………………………………………………………………...52 
                                 10. Planning………………………………………………………………………………………………..52 
                                 11.         Assessing Children’s Development and Learning………………………………………………...57 
                                 11.1                    Why Assess Children’s Work………………………………………………………………58 
                                 11.2                    What to Assess………………………………………………………………………………59 
                                 11.3                    When and How to Assess………………………………………………………………….59 
                                  
                                 12.         Role of Caregiver/ECCE Teacher…………………………………………………………………..62 
                                 13.         Partnership with Parents and Families……………………………………………………………..62 
                                 14.         Supportive Essentials………………………………………………………………………………...65 
                                 16. Glossary of terms……………………………………………………………………………………..66 
                                 17.         References and Resources………………………………………………………………………….67 
                                 18.         Annexure………………………………………………………………………………………………68 
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