The Three Sub-stages of Early Childhood Care and Education

1. An Infant-Toddler Stage: for children 3 years and below, who require family or crèche based protective, consistent and responsive care and a stimulating environment, along with adequate nutrition and health inputs.

2. An Early Childhood Education(ECE) stage: the Preschool / Pre-primary school Education stage  for children between 3 years to 6 years, who require a center/school based  pre-primary education programme.

3. Early Primary stage six to eight years: Although children between six to eight years are expected to be in primary school, they continue to be considered in the Early Childhood stage because they have developmental characteristics in common with the younger child. The smooth transition of these children from preschool to school becomes an area of concern and priority, in view of the significant drop outs in the early primary grades.