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

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

Teachers:
Tiina Suni
Noora Ahvenjärvi (responsible teacher)

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
Presentations on interview assignment

Thu 6.11.2025 9:30 - 14:30
Independent work

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.

Please check the prerequisites of the course. In case this course is not scheduled to your study group, please contact the responsible teacher of the course and provide them with the necessary documents.

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

Evaluation methods and criteria

Learning assignment (F-5)
- first submission 7.11.2025
- second submission 21.11.2025

Interview assignment is evaluated on scale approved / failed.
All the assignments must be completed to pass the course.

Failed (0)

Student does not achieve the criteria of level 1.
Student has not participated in contact teaching according to the requirements.
Student has not completed all the learning assignments of the course.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

• you understand the basic concept of inclusive early childhood education
• you understand some of the characteristics of children’s development
• you have some understanding on how to support children in social and psychological problems
• you understand in some level the importance of early support
• you know at some extend how to plan support measure with the day care team and guardians

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

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

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

• you understand deeply the concept of inclusive early childhood education
• you understand all the characteristics of children’s development and their variation
• you have deep understanding on how to support children in social and psychological problems and you can apply this knowledge in practice
• you understand in deep level the importance of early support for the overall well-being of children
• you know how to plan support measure with the day care team and guardians and are able to plan, implement and evaluate the actions from the perspective of your professional role

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.