Covid-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Early Childhood Education, Policies and Practices.

Abstract:
The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the closure of educational institutions around the world, with more than 1.2 billion children out of the classroom; as a result, education has changed dramatically. Early childhood is one of the most important and dangerous stages of growth in human life, as it contributes to laying the foundations and pillars upon which the personality of the child is built in its many different aspects. Therefore, this paper aims at exploring the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood education, policies and practices. Use the qualitative descriptive approach Primary data was collected through interviews, as intentional sample of 40 faculty members in the Early Childhood Department at King Saud University was selected. The results showed that the importance of making drastic changes in the early childhood education system to cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Also, the results highlighted that early childhood policies should be based on limiting and reversing negative long-term effects through implementing learning recovery programs, protecting education budgets, and preparing for future shocks. Moreover, the results of the interviews showed that improving early childhood practices in light of the Covid-19 pandemic depends mainly on developing the educational process, through a set of measures, including interest in investing in education, knowledge and skills, and qualifying and training teachers. Finally, this paper recommended the need to issue a guideline for formulating early childhood policies in order to draw a sustainable road map and develop innovative solutions to the challenges facing children at that stage.