Moderating Uncertainty: The Reception of Refugee Children in the German Early Childhood Education and Care Sector

Abstract

Located at the crossroads of integration and early childhood education and care (ECEC) policies, this article draws on empirical research conducted from the perspective of ECEC centres to provide insights into the local reception of refugee children in Germany. In recent years, the ECEC sector in Germany has faced the challenge of organizing access to childcare for many newly arrived children and their families—a process that has been shaped by uncertainty for policymakers and service providers alike. The article analyses data from the first survey among ECEC centres throughout Germany on this topic. It sheds light on enrolment patterns of refugee children, admission procedures, support structures and local collaboration. The results reveal the uncertainties that ECEC centres faced after the 2015 ‘refugee crisis’, and their diverse approaches. To better understand the role of ECEC centres as crucial actors in local integration processes, a conceptualization as ‘street-level’ organizations is suggested.

Tensions of Difference in Integrating Refugee Children in Norwegian ECEC Centers

“…Recent studies have emphasized that ECEC centers have increasingly become key sites for integrating refugees in host societies (Bove & Sharmahd, 2020;Bregnbaek, 2021;Kimathi & Nilsen, 2021;Kuusisto & Garvis, 2020;Scholz, 2021;Vandekerckhove & Aarssen, 2020). ECEC centers can contribute to improving refugee children's general well-being and language development (Jahreie, 2021;Kulbrandstad, 2017;Norheim & Moser, 2020;Sønsthagen, 2020).…”

“…Teachers are expected to abide by the legislation while simultaneously using their discretion to act knowledgeably and competently when dealing with immigrants and refugees, for the public good (Scholz, 2021).…”

An interpretive perspective on co-production in supporting refugee families’ access to childcare in Germany

“…In our case, this entails, for example, social workers in refugee accommodation as well as ECEC providers. The latter are often operated by the municipality or receive public funding and have been conceptualised as 'street-level organisations' (Scholz, 2021).…”

“…Since this peak, volunteers have been continually involved in supporting the refugees' arrival and integration, 1 including helping them overcome language barriers, providing advice and accompanying them to public authorities (for example, Karakayali and Kleist, 2016). Though their activities have been less visible, some volunteers have also been involved in dealing with early childhood education and care (ECEC), for example by facilitating access to ECEC services (Scholz, 2021). In light of a much-cited 'crisis of the administration' (Schader, 2020), public authorities have increasingly intervened 'to coordinate, enhance, support, or manage volunteering activities' (Fleischmann, 2019: 66).…”