Il ruolo del coordinatore pedagogico nella promozione dell'educazione e cura nella prima infanzia in Italia

This article aims to reconstruct – in their essential aspects – the history and evolution of the professional profile of the Pedagogical Coordinator in Italy, highlighting her/his strategic role in accompanying Early Childhood Education and Care services transition from being places merely focused to ‘taking care’ of children, in real education and care services. In Italy, ECEC services for children from 3 months to 3 years of age born during the 70s, thanks to the Law n. 1044 that establishes nurseries (in Italian “nidi d’infanzia”). The social and economic changes of the last thirty years have increased the demand for new educational services, better and differently organized then before, in order to meet the needs of families. Therefore, it becomes evident the need for a type of Coordination that would be able, on the one hand, to promote the integration between the different ECEC services, and on the other to support educators in carrying out their tasks.