Nislin, Mari A

Paananen, Maiju

Repo, Laura

Sajaniemi, Nina

Sims, Margaret

2015

The aim is to investigate the links between job satisfaction of Finnish early childhood professionals (ECPs) and the appreciation they receive for their work, and how these are associated with their competence to work with children with diverse needs and backgrounds. Data was collected via nationwide online survey for practitioners (n = 885) working in Finnish kindergartens. The main findings show that ECPs experience their work as satisfactory and receive appreciation from colleagues, friends and the children's parents. It was also evident form the data that ECPs felt themselves to be incompetent to work with children with disabilities or children who had experienced trauma. This may reflect that more in-service training regarding these special education issues is needed. We argue that satisfaction, appreciation and competence, are key factors in the development of a strong professional identity, enhanced well-being at work and in other domains of life and particularly for high quality and inclusive early childhood education.

South African Journal of Childhood Education, 5(3), p. 1-10

2223-7682

2223-7674

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/18602

en

South African Research Association for Early Childhood Education

Working with children with special needs in Finnish kindergartens: Professions and/or specialists?

Journal Article

Publication