ABSTRACT
Early Childhood education and care (ECEC) has gained a prominent place on international and national policy agendas. Dr John Bennett's lifelong contribution to the field and discipline of early childhood education and care has had an enormous influence on policy, research and practice globally. John probably came to the attention of a wider global audience through his work for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in his role as coordinator and lead author of the two Starting Strong reports. John fundamentally believed in the value and importance of early childhood to the learning and development of all children and to its potential to contribute to a democratic and egalitarian society. He identifies the benefits of an integrated system of ECEC with one lead ministry as including a universal entitlement, affordable access, a well-educated workforce and smoother transitions across the education sectors.
