The aim of this study was to investigate, identify and describe different ways of pedagogic support, methods and programs children in need of special support obtain in preschool today and if the support matches the individual child’s needs.
In Sweden, most children spend time at preschools from an early age. About 76% of Swedish children in the age range 1-5 years spend several hours at preschool or in family child care every weekday. Also the majority of young children in need of special support spend several hours every weekday day in preschools. Thus, besides the family setting, preschools is the natural environment in which most early intervention services to children in need of special support are provided. Preschool includes both general early childhood education provided to all children and special interventions provided to children in need of special support (Björck-Åkesson & Granlund, 2005). By law the preschool has a special responsibility for children in need of special support. The community should offer the child a placement in a preschool and to adapt the education to all children in the preschool. The number of children in need of special support has increased since 1999, and 55% of the communities in Sweden mean that the support to those children is not sufficient (Skolverket, 2004).
The data collection in this study consists of interviews from 34 preschools teachers. The study consists of both qualitative and quantitative analyzes.
The data suggest that pedagogical support include five categories related to direct and indirect support: attitudes, language support, physical support, child support and support in the environment. Six categories of methods were found, language, motor activities, more adult time, expression activities, professional and pedagogical programs.
2007.
Research in Education and Rehabilitation Sciences. By Faculty and Education and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia, June 14-16, 2007