Ensemble pour la Petite Enfance (EPE)  aims to strengthen early childhood education practices and promote equal opportunities from the very first years of life. Through a research-action approach, the project supports early childhood professionals in developing and implementing practices that nurture young children’s social and emotional skills, while reducing inequalities from the start.

Expected Impacts

• Improved professional educational practices — measured and observed through continuous assessment and support.
• Stronger cooperation between professionals and families, helping to build trust and reinforce the parent-child bond.
• Significant, evidence-based increase in prosocial behaviors and a reduction in disruptive behaviors among children.

Empowering Early Childhood Professionals

A total of 332 early childhood professionals have already been trained across participating nurseries. All teams have completed their training and begun implementing workshops with the children. While the pace of adoption varies from one center to another, early feedback is highly encouraging.

Educators report that children enjoy the puppet-based activities and actively engage with the socio-emotional learning themes explored during the workshops. Many parents have noticed that their children transfer these skills at home, demonstrating empathy, cooperation, and emotional awareness in their daily interactions.

The project continues to grow, paving the way for more inclusive, supportive, and emotionally rich environments in early childhood settings — because every child deserves the best start in life.