Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Leading Pedagogical Quality in the Context of Finnish Child Care

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Nordic Social Pedagogical Approach to Early Years

Abstract

Although there has been much international interest in Finnish early childhood education and care (ECEC) as a result of the country’s PISA success, the field is facing significant changes that bring both challenges and opportunities. The country’s decades-old Child Care Act is undergoing renewal, the New National Core Curriculum for ECEC is being drafted and child care is currently battling recent unfavourable government decisions. Under these circumstances, Finnish child care needs to focus on maintaining and further developing the quality of its services more than ever. This chapter covers the importance of the quality management of early educational services, a context where strong pedagogical leadership is demanded. By focusing on Nordic values in quality management, this chapter discusses the leading of pedagogical quality and its premises in Finnish child care during these times of change.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    In this article, we use the term child care parallel with early childhood education and care (ECEC). In the Finnish context, “ECEC” is more often replacing the use of “child care”, as there is a trend to emphasise children’s right to professional early education over parents’ right to receive child care for their children. When referring to professionals (i.e. Finnish kindergarten teachers or nursery nurses), we use the term pedagogues.

References

  • Act on Early Childhood Education and Care. (36/1973). (Revised Act on Children’s Day Care 1973/36). Varhaiskasvatuslaki. Ministry of Justice. Finland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahonen, L. (2015). Varhaiskasvattajan toiminta päiväkodin haastavissa kasvatustilanteissa. Acta Universitatis Tamperensis: 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akselin, M.-L. (2013). Varhaiskasvatuksen strategisen johtamisen rakentuminen ja menestymisen ennakoiminen johtamistyön tarinoiden valossa (Acta Universitatis Tamperensis 1807). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alasuutari, P. (2009). The domestication of worldwide policy models. Ethnologia Europaea, 39(1), 66–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alasuutari, P., & Alasuutari, M. (2012). The domestication of early childhood education plans in Finland. Global Social Policy, 12(2), 129–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alava, J., Halttunen, L., & Risku, M. (2012). Muuttuva oppilaitosjohtaminen. Muistio 2012:3. Opetushallitus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alila, K. (2013). Varhaiskasvatuksen laadun ohjaus ja ohjauksen laatu. Laatupuhe varhaiskasvatuksen valtionhallinnon asiakirjoissa 1972–2012 (Acta Universitatis Tamperensis 1824). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alila, K., & Kinos, J. (2014). Katsaus varhaiskasvatuksen historiaan. In K. Alila, M. Eskelinen, E. Estola, T. Kahiluoto, J. Kinos, H-M. Pekuri and M. Polvinen, R. Laaksonen, & K. Lamberg (Eds.), Varhaiskasvatuksen historia, nykytila ja kehittämisen suuntalinjat. Tausta-aineisto varhaiskasvatusta koskevaa lainsäädäntöä valmistelevan työryhmän tueksi (pp. 8–21). Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriön työryhmämuistioita ja selvityksiä 2014:12. http://www.minedu.fi/export/sites/default/OPM/Julkaisut/2014/liitteet/tr12.pdf?lang=fi

  • Dahlberg, G., & Åsén, G. (1994). Evaluation and regulation: A question of empowerment. In P. Moss & A. Pence (Eds.), Valuing quality in early childhood services (pp. 157–171). London: Chapman.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dahlberg, G., Moss, P., & Pence, A. (2007). Beyond quality in early childhood education and care. Languages of evaluation (2nd ed.). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eurydice. (2016). Finland. Early childhood education and care. European Commission. EACEA. Eurydice. Retrieved May 15, 2016, from https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/mwikis/eurydice/index.php/Finland:Early_Childhood_Education_and_Care

  • Fenech, M., Sumsion, J., & Goodfellow, J. (2008). Regulation and risk: Early childhood education and care services as sites where the ‘laugh of Foucault’ resounds. Journal of Educational Policy, 23(1), 35–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fonsén, E. (2014). Pedagoginen johtajuus varhaiskasvatuksessa (Acta Universitatis Tamperensis: 1914). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fonsén, E., & Soukainen, U. (forthcoming). Sustainable leadership in ECE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fonsén, E., Heikka, J., & Elo, J. (2014). Osallisuutta edistävän suunnittelun tasot. In J. Heikka, E. Fonsén, J. Elo, & J. Leinonen (Eds.), Osallisuuden pedagogiikka varhaiskasvatuksessa (pp. 80–95). Tampere: Suomen varhaiskasvatus ry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukkink, R. G., & Lont, A. (2007). Does training matter? A meta-analysis and review of caregiver training studies. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 22, 290–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harisalo, R. (2008). Organisaatioteoriat. Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, A. (2004). Distributed leadership and school improvement: Leading or misleading? Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 32(1), 11–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heikka, J. (2014). Distributed pedagogical leadership in early childhood education (Acta Universitatis Tamperensis 1908). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heikka, J., Fonsén, E., Elo, J., & Leinonen, J. (Eds.). (2014). Osallisuuden pedagogiikka varhaiskasvatuksessa. Tampere: Suomen varhaiskasvatus ry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hujala, E., & Fonsén, E. (2011). Varhaiskasvatuksen laadunarviointi ja pedagoginen kehittäminen. In E. Hujala & L. Turja (Eds.), Varhaiskasvatuksen käsikirja (pp. 312–327). Jyväskylä: PS-kustannus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hujala, E., Puroila, A.-M., Parrila-Haapakoski, S., & Nivala, V. (1998). Päivähoidosta varhaiskasvatukseen. Oulu: Varhaiskasvatus 90 ry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hujala, E., Parrila, S., Lindberg, P., Nivala, V., Tauriainen, L., & Vartiainen, P. (1999). Laadunhallinta varhaiskasvatuksessa. Oulun yliopisto: Varhaiskasvatuskeskus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hujala, E., Fonsén, E., & Elo, J. (2012). Evaluating the quality of the child care in Finland. Early Child Development and Care, 182(3–4), 299–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, C., & Pound, L. (2008). Leadership and management in the early years. From principles to practice. New York: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalliala, M. (2008). Kato mua! Kohtaako aikuinen lapsen päiväkodissa? Helsinki: Gaudeamus Helsinki University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kangas, J. (2016). Enhancing children’s participation in early childhood education with participatory pedagogy. University of Helsinki, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, Department of Teacher Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karila, K. (2009). Lapsuuden tutkimus ja päiväkotien toiminta. In L. Alanen & K. Karila (Eds.), Lapsuus, lapsuuden instituutiot ja lasten toiminta (pp. 249–262). Tampere: Vastapaino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karila, K. (2012). A Nordic perspective on early childhood education and care policy. European Journal of Education, 47(4), 584–595.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karila, K. (2013). Ammattilaissukupolvet varhaiskasvatuksen pedagogiikan toteuttajina ja kehittäjinä. In K. Karila & L. Lipponen (Eds.), Varhaiskasvatuksen pedagogiikka (pp. 9–29). Tampere: Vastapaino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karila, K. (2016). Vaikuttava varhaiskasvatus. Varhaiskasvatuksen tilannekatsaus. The Finnish National Board of Education. Reports 2016:6. www.oph.fi/download/176638_vaikuttava_varhaiskasvatus.pdf

  • National Core Curriculum for Pre-primary Education. (2010). The Finnish National Board of Education. http://www.oph.fi/download/153504_national_core_curriculum_for_pre-primary_education_2010.pdf

  • National Core Curriculum on early childhood education and care. (2016). Draft. The Finnish National Board of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Curriculum Guidelines on Early Childhood and Care in Finland. (2005). Stakes. Oppaita 56. http://www.julkari.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/75535/267671cb-0ec0-4039-b97b-7ac6ce6b9c10.pdf?sequence=1

  • Nonaka, I. (1994). A dynamic theory of organizational knowledge creation. Organization Science, 5, 14–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paananen, M., Kumpulainen, K., & Lipponen, L. (2015). Quality drift within a narrative of investment in early childhood education. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 23(5), 690–705.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pajulammi, H. (2014). Lapsi, oikeus ja osallisuus. Helsinki: Talentum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parrila, S. (2004). Laatu päivähoitoa koskevassa varhaiskasvatustutkimuksessa. In Varhaiskasvatuksen laatu on osaamista ja vuorovaikutusta (pp. 15–26). Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön julkaisuja 2004:6. Helsinki: Edita Prima Oy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pence, A., & Moss, P. (1994). Towards an inclusionary approach in defining quality. In P. Moss & A. Pence (Eds.), Valuing quality on early childhood services (pp. 172–179). London: Paul Chapman publishing ltd.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Pinch, K. J. (2009). Seer 2008 keynote address The importance of evaluation research. Journal of Experiential Education, 31(3), 390–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raasumaa, V. (2010). Perusopetuksen rehtori opettajien osaamisen johtajana. University of Jyväskylä. Jyväskylä Studies in Education, Psychology and Social Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajakaltio, H. (2012). Pedagoginen johtaminen managerialismin ristipaineessa. In K. Mäki, & T. Palonen (Eds.), Johtamisen tilat ja paikat (pp. 105–125). Aikuiskasvatuksen 50. vuosikirja. Vantaa: Hansaprint.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roos, P. (2015). Lasten kerrontaa päiväkotiarjesta (Acta Universitatis Tamperensis: 2015). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rury, J. L. (2016). Education and social change: Contours in the history of American schooling (5th ed.). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryzhova, N. (2012). Training of pedagogues in Russia: A retrospective analysis. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, 1(1), 59–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabol, T. J., & Pianta, R. C. (2015). Validating Virginia’s quality rating and improvement system among State-Funded Pre-Kindergarten Programs. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 30, 183–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schein, E. (1989). Organizational culture and leadership. A dynamic view. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sergiovanni, T. J. (1998). Leadership as pedagogy, capital development and school effectiveness. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 1(1), 37–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, S. (2001). Pedagogical quality in preschool. An issue of perspectives. Acta universitatis Gothoburgensis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soukainen, U. (2015). Johtajan jäljillä. Johtaminen varhaiskasvatuksen hajautetuissa organisaatioissa laadun ja pedagogisen tuen näkökulmasta (Turun yliopiston julkaisuja – Annales Universitatis Turkuensis. C–400). Turku: Painosalama oy.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC). http://karvi.fi/en/early-childhood-education/

  • United Nations. (1989). Convention on the rights of the child. Treaty Series, 1577, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Virkki, P. (2015). Varhaiskasvatus toimijuuden ja osallisuuden edistäjänä. Publications of the University of Eastern Finland. Dissertations in Education, Humanities, and Theology 66. Joensuu: University of Eastern Finland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vlasov, J., & Hujala, E. (2016). Cross-cultural interpretations of changes in early childhood education in the USA, Russia, and Finland. International Journal of Early Years Education. Published online 26 May 2016. doi:10.1080/09669760.2016.1189812.

  • Vlasov, J., & Hujala, E. (Forthcoming). Parent-teacher cooperation in the early childhood education – studying changes in the USA, Russia, and Finland.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    Elina Fonsén & Janniina Vlasov

Authors
  1. Elina Fonsén
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Janniina Vlasov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elina Fonsén .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Charlotte Ringsmose

  2. The Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Grethe Kragh-Müller

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fonsén, E., Vlasov, J. (2017). Leading Pedagogical Quality in the Context of Finnish Child Care. In: Ringsmose, C., Kragh-Müller, G. (eds) Nordic Social Pedagogical Approach to Early Years. International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Development, vol 15. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42557-3_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42557-3_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42555-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42557-3

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation