THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SCHOOL SUPPORT TEAM IN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN KINDERGARTENS
THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SCHOOL SUPPORT TEAM IN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN KINDERGARTENS
Author(s): Ivana Rochovská, Vladimír Klein, Viera ŠilonováSubject(s): Education, Preschool education, Inclusive Education / Inclusion
Published by: Scientia Socialis, UAB
Keywords: inclusive education; kindergarten; preschool education; school special educator; school support team; teaching assistant;
Summary/Abstract: Inclusive education presents a significant challenge for contemporary society. All children should have the opportunity to develop according to their educational needs within an inclusive environment. The effectiveness of the school support team plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. This research aimed to explore the perspectives of teaching staff in kindergartens, including headmasters, teachers, and teaching assistants, regarding inclusive education, with a specific focus on their views and attitudes towards the roles of school special educators and teaching assistants in preschool education. A mixed-methods research strategy was employed to achieve this aim. Data were collected using a self-constructed questionnaire containing both closed and open items, completed by 394 respondents from 142 kindergartens. The findings indicated that teaching staff perceived the existence of a school support team as having a positive impact on addressing various children's issues and enhancing teachers' work. These results contribute to a broader understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the members of a school support team in kindergartens.
Journal: Problems of Education in the 21st Century
- Issue Year: 82/2024
- Issue No: 4
- Page Range: 521-538
- Page Count: 18
- Language: English