Breaking the cycle of disadvantage in early childhood: integrating social work and education through participatory and reflective parenting support

Effective responses to child neglect in vulnerable situations require sustained parenting support and opportunities for reflective practice. Collaboration between social services and ECEC providers is a key condition for integrated approaches to child and family well-being, yet it remains underdeveloped. The ‘Child’s World: Maps to Explore the 0–3’ is a participatory assessment tool designed to support professionals and caregivers in jointly observing and interpreting the developmental needs of children aged 0–3, developed within P.I.P.P.I., a national parenting support programme in Italy. This article explores tool’s potential to enhance parenting support and foster cross-sectoral collaboration in early childhood services, using a mixed-methods approach combining survey data with practitioner focus-groups and parent interviews. In a context marked by limited specialized training and age-appropriate tools, findings show that the tool strengthened professionals’ observational and reflective skills, fostered interprofessional collaboration, and supported parents in developing more intentional and responsive caregiving. Barriers emerged, including language complexity, limited cultural adaptation, and organizational constraints. Overall, results highlight the transformative potential of the tool when applied in participatory and dialogical ways, and point to the need for further training, organizational support, and adapted versions to maximise its use and value as a reflective device.