A Systematic Review of the Quality of Family Child Care and the Influence of Professionalization

German law (Tagesbetreuungsausbaugesetz 2005) demands that family daycare and center-based care be equivalent settings for the education of young children before beginning their formal schooling. However, the few existing studies show that process quality (measured with the Environmental Rating Scales) is mediocre and has been stable over time. Today we know only little about prerequisites for reaching high process quality in family childcare. We therefore carried out a systematic review summarizing the predictors of process quality regarding professionalization processes and financing. The systematic literature search revealed 213 papers, 16 of which analyzed predictors. In sum, quality was predicted by (1) improved funding, (2) cooperation and networking, (3) professional attitudes, and (4) regulation and licensing. Deriving from this findings, this review identifies aspects for policy and practice to improve process quality in family daycare.