Sari Havu-Nuutinen

In Search of Quality in Finnish Pre‐School Education

This study was conducted during the academic year 2002–2003 in a municipality in Eastern Finland. It focuses on pre‐school education assessing its quality factors from the parents’, teachers’ and children’s points of view. Theoretically, the study focuses on analyses of the purposes of the national core curriculum and pedagogical issues that are related to understanding quality in pre‐school education. According to this study, parents, pre‐school teachers, and children are satisfied with pre‐school education in general. They all emphasize its importance for children’s development in the areas of cognitive and social skills and development. Results clearly show that pre‐school education should be revised to meet the needs of improvement in the area of co‐operation, the expectations of modern society, and the aims of the national curriculum. In addition, pre‐school education is still searching for its own cultural position in the area of Finnish school and daycare systems.

‘Creative Little Scientists’ Project: Mapping and Comparative Assessment of Early Years Science Education Policy and Practice

Creative Little Scientists was a 30-month (2011–2014) EU/FP7-funded research project focusing on the synergies between early years science and mathematics education and the development of children’s creativity, in response to increasing interest in these areas in European educational policy. Using a variety of methods, including desk research, a teacher survey and classroom-based fieldwork, the research provided insights into whether and how children’s creativity is fostered and appropriate learning outcomes, including children’s interest, emerge. Based on these, the project proposed changes in policy and teacher education encompassing curriculum, pedagogy and assessment.