Challenges to co-operation with parents in Centers for Early Education in Germany

The mandate of public services in early education and care is discussed in view of social inequalities in Germany. The paper focusses on the so called ‚educational partnership between professionals and parents’and analyses its challenges and potentials under the given legal and social structures. Special emphasis is set on chosen life situations of children and families such as migration and poverty. Current approaches to parent-teacher partnership are discussed against the setting of historic development in parent cooperation. The paper closes with a critical acclaim of the challenges innate to the concept of parent-professional partnership.

Earlyeducation of children in Poland as an element of social policy

Articlefocuses on issues related to early care and education for children in the context of the current challenges facing social policy. Its aim is to show the importance of early care and education of children as part of the systemic impact in the area, forming part of the family and educational policy, and bringing tangible benefits to individual and social. The text points to the important role of education in society from the point of view of both the functionalist perspective, as well as the theory of conflict and education starting from the earliest years of a child's life. Furthermore, the article shows the elements of the system of early care and education of children in Poland and its transformations, as well as the challenges faced by local authorities in ensuring the effective and efficient functioning.

Family as a problem, family as a solution

Surveys show a high degree of satisfaction with marital relationship and relationship between parents and children in Polish families. Family is invariably located on the top of the hierarchy of values for the Poles. They assess family policy of the state at less than a sufficient  grade. The authors analyze social work with foster families in Myślenice and support for social workers working with families in Krakow. They are new forms of direct or indirect support for problem families. The assistance is now possible thanks to new laws on foster care and supervision for social workers.