This report contains six papers presented at 1993 and 1995 seminars conducted by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research. It also includes the schedules of the two seminars and a summary of a general discussion on future directions in research in early childhood education and care conducted at the 1995 seminar. They include: (1) "Working with Children before They Start School: Some Findings from Swedish Early Childhood Centres" (Ingrid Pramling); (2) "Creating Learners Who Want To Know: An Action Research Project Following a College-Based Teaching Experience" (Anne Meade and Lynne Bruce); (3) "Meeting Their Needs: Educational/Training Implications of a Collaborative Study of Playcentre Children Aged Under 2 1/2 Years" (Valerie Podmore and Liz Depree); (4) "Fitting, Not Flitting: Schema Development Seen in Some Children in the Competent Children Project" (Anne Meade); (5) "Early Childhood Teacher Education: Findings from a Longitudinal Study" (Margery Renwick and Sally Boyd); and (6) "Families, Work, and Early Childhood Education: Experiencing Change and Diversity" (Valerie N. Podmore). Each paper contains a reference list. (MDM)