Identifying and Supporting Children’s Special Needs (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

Teachers:
Tiina Suni
Noora Ahvenjärvi

Teaching on Thursdays, week 40-45
Teaching in English at Salo campus.

Thu 2.10.2025 9:30 - 14:30 (Tiina)
Course info and study assignments
Inclusion and early support in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)
Planning support measures in ECEC

Thu 9.10.2025 9:30 - 14:30 (Noora)
Cooperation with the guardians in support measures
Cross-sectoral cooperation

Week 42 independent work on study assignment

Thu 23.10.2025 (Noora)
Supporting language and linguistic abilities
Exercises on supportive measures

Thu 30.10.2025 9:30 - 14:30 (Tiina)
Supporting children’s emotional skills and social development

Thu 6.11.2025 9:30 - 14:30 (Tiina and Noora)
Presentations on interview assignment
Course wrap-up and reflection

Attendance in contact teaching of the course is mandatory, which is based on the working and learning methods used in the course. The contact teaching includes interactive activities, discussions, peer learning, and workshop activities. Participation in contact teaching supports the development of the student’s professional skills and interaction abilities.

In case of absence due to illness, a compensatory assignment must be completed. The max. amount of absence is 50 % of the contact teaching. If this is exceeded, the completion of the course will be postponed to the next implementation.


Changes are possible.

Objective

• you understand the basic concepts of inclusive early childhood education
• you understand the characteristics of children’s development and their variation
• you know how to support children in social and psychological problems
• you understand the importance of early support for the overall well-being of children and know how to plan support measure with the day care team and guardians

Content

• supporting children’s psychosocial development
• creating a learning environment that supports children’s development (psychological, physical and social)
• challenging educational situations and tutoring interaction
• emotional education and children’s peer relationships
• collaboration with parents and other experts

Materials

Lecture materials
Scientific articles in English

Materials in Finnish, optional:
- Heiskanen, N. 2022. Pienet tuetut askeleet.
- Siiskonen, T., Aro, T., Ahonen, T. & Ketonen, R. (toim.). 2003. Joko se puhuu? Kielenkehityksen vaikeudet varhaislapsuudessa.
- Aro, T. & Laakso, M-L. (toim.). 2011. Taaperosta taitavaksi toimijaksi - Itsesäätelytaitojen kehitys ja tukeminen.
- Lundàn, A. & Suoninen, E. 2006. Haasteellisen lapsen kohtaaminen. Kasvatus 37 (5), 453 - 462

Teaching methods

Individual work, pair work, group work
Literature-based, lecture-based and learning assignment-based work

Student workload

Contact teaching and interview assignment 3 ECTS
Learning assignment 2 ECTS

Qualifications

Students can start optional customer group-specific studies when they have completed at least 60 credits.

The modules in early childhood education must be completed in order: first the basic studies (Module 1) and then the advanced studies (Module 2). Exceptions can be made if it is justified from the perspective of the student’s personal study plan (HOPS) and the student has at least one year of work experience in early childhood education tasks in Finland or previous higher education studies in early childhood education that have been accredited in their studies at Turku University of Applied Sciences.