Preliminary communication
Children at risk of social exclusion in the early childhood and pre-school education system: Evaluation of the model to prevent unfavourable developmental trajectories
Dejana Bouillet
orcid.org/0000-0002-0486-3378
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb
*
Monika Pažur
orcid.org/0000-0003-0936-0048
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Teacher Education, Croatia
Sandra Antulić Majcen
orcid.org/0000-0002-2584-2373
; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
High quality pedagogical practise is one of the most important mechanisms to support families and children at risk of social exclusion (RSE) in the early childhood and pre-school education system (ECEC). This paper describes and presents the results of the evaluation of the model for the prevention of adverse developmental outcomes of children with RSE achieved through quality pedagogical practise. The contribution of using the model to children's social inclusion was determined using a quasi-experimental quantitative method. 60 educators from 15 kindergartens in seven districts of the Republic of Croatia participated in the study. Before and after six months of implementing the model, they completed the scale for assessing the child's social inclusion and the protocol for documenting pedagogical practise in relation to the child. The qualitative thematic analysis describes the ways in which the application of the model contributes to children's well-being. 30 educators who implemented the model were interviewed. The use of the model was found to contribute to better developmental outcomes for children at RSE and to educators' professional development and practise. The results suggest that the pedagogical practise of ECEC needs to be improved to prevent unfavourable developmental outcomes for children at RSE.
Keywords
children at risk of social exclusion; quality pedagogical practise; model for preventing adverse developmental outcomes in children; evaluation; early childhood and pre-school education
Hrčak ID:
319342
URI
Publication date:
17.7.2024.
Visits: 482 *