INDUCTION PATHS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: BUILDING REFLECTIVE PRACTICES AND SHARED VISIONS

Access to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services is essential to providing all children with the necessary competencies for lifelong learning, with particular attention to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, ensuring access alone is not sufficient; it is crucial that these services maintain a "high-quality" standard, as emphasized by the European Council Recommendation on High-Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems. One of the key factors in ensuring such quality is the professionalization of staff, which includes continuous in-service training. This study explores induction programs as fundamental tools for supporting newly hired educators in acquiring professional competencies and developing a professional habitus suited to contemporary educational challenges. Specifically, it presents the training program promoted by the Municipality of Foligno.