Kerry McCuaig is a Fellow in Early Childhood Policy, Atkinson Centre, OISE/UT. Dr. David Philpott is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University in Newfoundland.

In this conversation, we talk about Chapter 3 in Early Years Study 4——A Step Up For All: ECE Helps Children, Families and Communities Thrive.

Our exploration includes the rather stark admission that Canada falls far behind other countries in terms of a commitment to quality, accessible early childhood education. We also identify the features and characteristics of a quality ECE environment and underline the double dividend that is realized when we step up for all of our youngest citizens.