Vidensbaseret indsats over for udsatte børn i dagtilbud – modelprogram: VIDA-forskningsrapport 3. Forældreinddragelse.

This report is part of the reporting of the research project ‘Knowledge-Based Efforts for Socially Disadvantaged Children in Day-Care’ (VIDA). The overall objective of the VIDA project is to study the effects of a new daycare facility intervention, in which early childhood educators and daycare managers work with a theoretical (knowledge-based), targeted and systematic approach. The study identifies specific processes of change in the daycare facilities' approach to, and organisation of, parent cooperation and involvement. Moreover, the study identifies the parents' changed behaviour (due to the intervention) in relation to their own child and their participation in everyday activities at the institutions and in connection with parent activities.

The statistical analyses show that there have been changes in the types of parent activities prioritised at the daycare facilities: VIDA institutions are less likely to arrange activities that involve parents. Compared with the qualitative analyses, the study interprets this as a sign that VIDA daycare facilities are more focussed on combining the different purposes with regard to involving parents, and that parents contribute in other ways than participating in actual practical activities, e.g. maintenance of the physical premises. Further to this, the results show that the daycare facilities in the VIDA basis+ parent model programme are now more focussed on improving inter-parental relationships than they were before they participated in the VIDA programme. However, the study only measures small effects on the way in which the daycare facilities in the VIDA basis+ parent model programme organise parent cooperation.

The qualitative analysis consists of two parts that focus on the daycare managers' perspective as well as the parents' perspective of the development as a consequence of the daycare facilities' participation in the VIDA basis+ parent model programme. The daycare facilities have reassessed and reconsidered their parent activities in terms of content and form, so that they now work with dynamic events, i.e. with activities, dialogue and interaction structured and supported by the staff. The daycare facilities examine the barriers for parent participation in the parent cooperation, and they report a more direct and outreaching approach to the parents. Moreover, the daycare managers state that they involve the parents more systematically. Institutions have become more aware of the fact that parent involvement requires changes in their own practices. The second part of the analysis deals with the parents' perspectives. This analysis shows that parents find it important that everyday life at the daycare facilities is made specific and attentive, so that parents are more aware of what takes place at the daycare facilities and what their children do. This increased involvement in the everyday life of the daycare facility increases the parents' sense of security as well as their understanding of their child and their child’s development and well-being.

The interventions were implemented in 2011 and completed in 2013. A survey was carried out at baseline, half-way and at the end of the study (2011, 2012 and 2013). Moreover individual interviews with daycare managers (spring 2011) and focus group interviews with managers (spring 2013) were conducted. Furthermore, two visits were made to four selected institutions (autumn 2012 and spring 2013) during which daycare managers, VIDA employees and selected parents were interviewed. The four institutions were selected on the basis of their development and experience that can inspire other daycare facilities. Observations and interviews were conducted during both visits.

The VIDA project tests the VIDA basis model programme and the VIDA basis+ parent model programme against a reference group (the control group). The VIDA basis+ parent model programme differs from the VIDA basis model programme by involving parents to a higher degree. The survey seeks to identify current practice with regard to parent cooperation. Statistical methodologies were used to reveal statistical correlations across the interventions (VIDA basis model programme, VIDA basis+ parent model programme and control group). This survey is supplemented by qualitative, semi-structured interviews conducted at the daycare centres in the VIDA basis+ parent model programme.

Kousholt D. & P. Berliner (2013). Vidensbaseret indsats over for udsatte børn i dagtilbud – modelprogram: VIDA-forskningsrapport 3. Forældreinddragelse: Institut for Uddannelse og Pædagogik, Aarhus Universitet.