A child in early childhood education
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Cooperation between home and early years education
Objectives and methods of cooperation
The aim of working with carers is to strengthen the involvement of both the child and the carers. This collaboration begins with the family right from the very first interactions, such as the early years education application, telephone conversations, introductory meetings and familiarisation visits.
The collaboration includes:
- daily interactions with staff and carers at the nursery
- parent-teacher evenings held each term (either for specific groups or involving all departments)
- events for families organised during the programme period
The opportunity for guardians to have a say
- introductory meeting on early years education
- surveys of families conducted during the financial year
- early years education plan discussions (feedback and dialogue with group staff regarding the child’s needs)
- raising any conce s with the group’s staff at the earliest possible stage
Support for children’s development and lea ing
Children have the right to receive general, intensified or special support in early childhood education and care as required for their development, lea ing and well-being. High-quality early childhood education and care is important for later lea ing, and children must therefore have the right to receive the support they need at the right time. Keuruu’s early years education uses a three-tier support model, implemented by skilled staff. The support provided may be pedagogical, therapeutic or structural. All forms of support are available within general, intensified and special support. National Agency for Education: Support for children in early childhood education
All children in early years education receive general support tailored to their needs. Support may be needed, for example, with getting dressed, transitions, peer relationships, play or language development. Children are supported by tailoring the educational activities of early years education to their individual needs. Support is provided for as long as the child needs it.
General support is provided as part of the core activities of early childhood education. An administrative decision is made regarding general support if the child requires support services, such as full-time or part-time teaching by a special needs teacher, or interpreting and assistance services. The necessary support measures are taken into account when the child moves on to pre-primary education.
Intensive support is provided if general support is no longer sufficient for the child. Support may be short-term or long-term and is provided for as long as the child needs it. Support measures are regular, and several different support measures may be implemented simultaneously. No diagnosis is required to start enhanced support. The head of the nursery makes an administrative decision regarding enhanced support and the support measures required during this period.
Special support is the most intensive form of support. It is provided if enhanced support is not sufficient, or when a child needs it due to, for example, a disability, illness or developmental delay. Support measures are always planned on an individual basis. Special support is a continuous, full-time need for support, during which a range of different forms of support and support services are utilised. Starting special support does not require a diagnosis or a need for rehabilitation, nor does it require that enhanced support has previously been provided. The head of the nursery makes an administrative decision regarding special support and the support measures required during that period.
Special needs teachers in early years education
Keuruu employs a permanent special needs teacher for early childhood education (VEo), who is involved in supporting the child’s growth and development and is responsible for developing and organising support packages. The special needs teacher participates in planning the child’s support together with the group’s staff and attends meetings conce ing the child. The special needs teacher may also lead various small groups at the nursery. Parents or carers can contact the special needs teacher at any time.
In addition, a contracted transport service operates in Keuruu one day a week, and primary school special needs teachers are responsible for special needs education in pre-school.
Mealtimes in early childhood education
Early years education in Keuruu provides children with breakfast, lunch and a snack during childcare hours. In the shift care group, dinner and an evening snack are also provided.
The meals served during the day form an important part of a child’s daily nutritional intake, which is supplemented by the food provided at home. In early childhood education, we explore a wide variety of different dishes and lea to eat independently as well as good table manners. The aim of food education is to promote a positive attitude towards food and eating, and to support varied and healthy eating habits. Early childhood education provides xylitol sweets at mealtimes. Catering service Keurusseudun Ateriat provides meals for the city’s own early childhood education units. The catering service also has a free app for the menus, which you can download from the app store onto your smartphone or tablet. Rotating menu Jamix menu
Children are provided with a diet tailored to their allergies, medical condition or ethical beliefs. A diet intended to treat a medical condition is implemented on the basis of a specialist’s assessment. In the case of food allergies, only those ingredients will be excluded from meals where avoidance is justified due to significant or life-threatening symptoms. It is the guardian’s responsibility to provide and keep up to date information regarding special dietary requirements.
Children’s wellbeing and health
Keuruu’s early years education services have a medication management plan in place to guide the administration of medication to children during the early years education day. According to the plan, a child’s medication is always administered primarily at home. If a child’s medication requires action to be taken at the early years education centre as well, a medication plan is drawn up to ensure the safe administration of medication.
The plan is drawn up before treatment begins and is attached to the child’s early years education plan. Only essential medicines prescribed by a doctor are administered in early years education. Parents or carers must deliver the child’s medicines to the early years education unit in their original packaging, together with the dosage instructions prescribed by the doctor, and each medicine pack must be clearly labelled with the child’s first name and su
ame. Measures recorded
in the child’s medication plan will be taken into account, where necessary, in the unit’s own safety plan.
A sick child should not be brought to early years education; instead, they should be allowed to recover in peace at home. If a child falls ill, the guardian must notify the early years education centre via text message or WhatsApp.
If a child falls ill during the day, our staff will notify the parents or carers by telephone and, where possible, the child should be collected and taken home without delay. The child may retu to early years education once they are symptom-free, have the energy to take part in activities and there is no risk of infection. After a fever, it is advisable to wait one fever-free day before retu ing to the nursery. As a general guideline, the child should be well enough to take part in the group’s shared activities. A fever is not the only indicator of a child’s well-being.
Accident insurance in early childhood education
Children attending early years education in Keuruu are insured against accidents through Pohjola Insurance on behalf of the City of Keuruu whilst participating in activities. The City of Keuruu’s insurance policy number is 16-684-172-0.
If an accident occurs during early childhood education:
- If an accident occurs at an early years education centre, the staff member in charge of supervision must complete an accident report, which is then submitted to the Growth and Wellbeing Department at the Town Hall.
- The insurance is valid during early childhood education and on jou eys directly related to early childhood education.
- The insurance covers the costs of private and public healthcare, travel expenses to a doctor, dentist or healthcare facility, and, for example, medicines sold in pharmacies.
- Guardians should, as a first step, claim reimbursement for the expenses they have paid from Pohjola Insurance, once a claim has been submitted to the insurance company. The claim should be submitted via the OP-mobile app or the op.fi website. The insurance number required for the claim is 16-684-172-0. If it is not possible to submit the claim in the manner described above, you can apply for reimbursement by sending receipts, copies of invoices, a travel expense claim form and your bank details to the Growth and Wellbeing Administration.
- Insurance terms and conditions: Group accident insurance (Op.fi)
- Insurance and Claims Services (Pohjola Insurance), My child has injured themselves at school or nursery – what should I do?
- Pohjola Insurance, tel. 0303030
Further information on growth and well-being management:
A complaint or appeal regarding early years education
If you are dissatisfied with the quality or safety of early years education services, please follow Valvira’s guidelines.
Click here to view Valvira’s guidelines
This content has been translated using AI