D2.1 Policy analysis report

The report presents an analysis of how European countries have adopted different typesof educational reforms, ranging from universal reforms targeting the wider student populationto targeted interventions supporting specific groups of disadvantaged learners andreducing inequalities, while also identifying areas that remain unaddressed in current reformagendas. Ethnic diversity in Europe and varying levels of migration is addressed in a number of educationpolicies and interventions. Shared features across several countries in Europeidentified in this study pertain to national policy efforts and specific interventions that targetlanguage acquisition, preparatory classes, intercultural mediation, and tailored educationalsupport to promote inclusion and academic success. Many countries emphasise early and structured language programmes, supplementaryinstruction, and linguistic assessments to ensure integration and equitable access to education:e.g. Germany’s’ Sprach-Kitas programme that seeks to enhance ongoing exposureto German in everyday activities in kindergartens; Finland's National Core CurriculumInstruction Preparing for Basic Education allows for instruction in native languages; andDenmark’s universal language assessment regime at the beginning of primary school.Early childhood education is a key focus, with policies expanding access, lowering entryages, providing financial support, and enhancing curriculum quality, for instance Romania’sLaw 56/2019 made the last year of Early Childhood Education compulsory and free,while enhancing access to childhood care in rural areas.