Reforma predšolske vzgoje v vrtcu? Da, v smeri večje pravičnosti in višje kakovosti za vse malčke in otroke. (Slovenian)

A REFORM OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION IN PRESCHOOLS? YES – TOWARDS GREATER EQUITY AND HIGHER QUALITY FOR ALL TODDLERS AND CHILDREN. (English)

The main task of preschool education is to provide all toddlers and children with opportunities for a wholesome development, age-appropriate learning, well-being, inclusion and safety. Many foreign as well as Slovenian studies confirm the significantly positive (compensatory) impact of preschool in various areas of toddler and child development, while emphasizing the importance of preschool quality, both at the structural, indirect and process levels. This manuscript presents the results of a qualitative study involving eight Slovenian preschools selected according to various criteria (e.g., geographic location, size, bilingual environment). Focus groups with management, professional and advisory staff as well as parents were used to define the challenges preschools face today. The analysis of the responses collected in the focus groups showed that the most important challenges in preschools are inadequate normative requirements referring to the number of children in a gorup (both in the first and second age period) and spatial conditions; work with children with special needs, children whose native language is not Slovenian and Roma children; curriculum activities and transition from preschool to school. Based on developmental theories, current research in the field of promoting early development and learning, and comparative studies, we have proposed possible solutions to selected challenges aimed at ensuring greater equity and higher quality for all toddlers and children in preschools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ključna naloga predšolske vzgoje v vrtcu je zagotoviti vsem malčkom in otrokom možnosti za celovit razvoj, njihovi starosti primerno učenje, dobro počutje, vključenost in varnost. Številne tuje in domače raziskave potrjujejo pomemben pozitiven (kompenzatoren) učinek vrtca na različna področja razvoja malčkov in otrok ter hkrati poudarjajo pomen kakovosti vrtca tako na strukturni kot tudi na posredni in procesni ravni. V prispevku so predstavljene ugotovitve kvalitativne študije, v kateri smo v osmih slovenskih vrtcih, ki so bili izbrani glede na različne kriterije (npr. geografsko lego, velikost, dvojezično okolje) v fokusnih skupinah z vodstvenimi, strokovnimi in svetovalnimi delavci in delavkami ter starši opredelile izzive, s katerimi se spoprijemajo vrtci v današnjem času. Analiza odgovorov, zbranih v fokusnih skupinah, je pokazala, da so prevladujoči prepoznani izzivi v vrtcih neustrezni normativi, ki določajo število otrok v oddelkih 1. in 2. starostne skupine in prostorske pogoje; delo z otroki s posebnimi potrebami, otroki, katerih prvi jezik ni slovenščina, ter romskimi otroki; dejavnosti kurikuluma ter prehod iz vrtca v šolo. Izhajajoč iz razvojnopsiholoških teorij, sodobnih raziskav na področju spodbujanja zgodnjega razvoja in učenja otrok ter primerjalnih študij, smo oblikovale možne rešitve opredeljenih izzivov, ki stremijo k zagotavljanju večje pravičnosti in višje kakovosti za vse malčke in otroke, vključene v vrtec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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