SOME BEST PRACTICES FOR MORE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION by Tarumaija Aalto, Elina Sandelin & Tiina Vanhanen
The City of Turku is developing its early childhood and basic education in various ways with the financial aid of Finlandâs Ministry of education and culture. The overall goal is that every child would get the support they need to learn and feel comfortable in their local learning environment. In other words, to advance inclusion and every childâs right to early support. Three examples of the steps the City of Turku is taking towards these goals are presented below. There has been a three-tier support system in Finnish Basic education since 2011. Now an updated Act on Early childhood education and care extends similar three level support system also to the early childhood education. The updated law will take effect on 1.8.2022. The City of Turku is now promoting implementation of this amendment. Teachers and other early childhood education professionals are provided education, research-based methods, and tools for how to better support language, communication, and social emotional development of children. Sufficient early support eases learning difficulties and prevents later social exclusion. Another step the City of Turku is taking towards more inclusive education is that more attention and aid is going to be given to children with neuropsychiatric difficulties such as ADHD. Teachers are educated about different neuropsychiatric symptoms and trained how to support children 14
with these symptoms. These teachers with special knowledge about different types of neuropsychiatric difficulties will then support other teachers for example on how to structure and visualize their lessons. They will also add awareness about these difficulties and develop the whole schoolsâ activities and surroundings with the special needs of these children in mind. All these changes will be helpful to all children. Not only to those with these special needs. Final example of the steps the City of Turku is taking on the way to making schools places where every-one can feel good and looked after is school coaches. The main objectives in the new school coachâs profession are to prevent studentsâ school absenteeism, dropouts, and social exclusion. To achieve these objectives, school coach must be easily approachable, safe adult who listens and meets students, prevents bullying and loneliness, advocates communality and team spirit and teaches emotional and social skills. All these steps are part of the City of Turkuâs strategy: strengthen the support of learning to promote a more wellbeing City.
