The relationship between ECE and CSE in the training field. The Italian case.

The paper aims to contribute to the debate on pre-school and primary education training through the analysis of a country case. The first part of the paper will explore how the relationships between these two parts of the education system has been constructed and evolved over time in the context of local socio-cultural conditions. The second part of the paper will investigate the impact that such developments had on the professional preparation of pre-school and primary school teachers and it will give a critical account of recent trends starting from a rigorous analysis of pathways of continuity and change. The assumption underlying this paper is that any reflection on the design of teacher’s initial preparation shall not overlook the historical processes and the local socio-cultural conditions within which educational systems are embedded and constantly changing. The concluding part of the paper will outline conceptual categories for looking critically into the challenges and possibilities posed by recent reform trends concerning teachers’ professional preparation across the early childhood and compulsory school education field.