Abstract

GRANDE, Catarina  and  PINTO, Ana Isabel. O envolvimento de crianças com necessidades educativas especiais em contexto de creche e de jardim-de-infância. Aná. Psicológica [online]. 2011, vol.29, n.1, pp.99-117. ISSN 0870-8231.

The purpose of this study is to analyse observed engagement in children with disabilities included in child care/preschool settings in the Metropolitan Area of Porto, comparing levels and types of engagement in two different settings: in the presence of a special education teacher; in the absence of this professional. The ABILITIES Index (Simeonsson & Bailey, 1991) was used to obtain children’s disability profiles and the Engagement Quality Observation System III (McWilliam & de Kruif, 1998) was used to measure children’s observed engagement behaviour. Based on children’s interactive competencies during play situations or daily routines, engagement has been studied as a variable with learning and developmental value illustrating children’s daily experiences as well as the quality of the opportunities provided in their educational contexts. Results indicate that the sophistication and the focus of children’s engagement are influenced by children’s characteristics (age and disability level), as well as by factors of their educational environment (presence/absence of special education teacher), underlining the relevance of this line of research, and providing empirical evidence on the engagement construct as an indicator of interactive processes with developmental value.

Keywords : Child involvement; Inclusion; Quality of early childhood education contexts; Special educational needs.

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