This policy brief aims to present an overview of the current understanding and measurement of quality of ECEC in the EU member states. We concentrate our discussion on centre-based early-years provision, predominantly focusing on the pre-school years (from three years until compulsory school age). In this context of centre-based ECEC provision, we discuss the definition and measurement of childcare quality and offer an overview of the definitions, measurements and practices of 'quality', and how these vary across the current European landscape. (author abstract)