Kompetansebehov i barnehagen: en kartlegging av eiere, styrere og ansattes vurderinger i forhold til kompetanseheving.

The overall purpose of the study is to improve the knowledge base on which to design continuing and further education and training programmes for daycare employees. The study aims to map the need for skills development for daycare employees in Norway. More specifically, the study aims to map the need for enhancing skills with regard to specific academic themes, as well as to identify the preferred type of skills development and obstacles to participating in skills-development activities, both with regard to owners and the different groups of staff in daycare facilities. Moreover, the study examines the relevance of the bachelor degree programme in social education with regard to working in a daycare facility.

The study’s findings are organised according to the following ten themes: 1) preferred academic areas for skills development, 2) preferred type of skills development, 3) barriers to skills development, 4) assessment of needs among other groups of employees, 5) differences and similarities between municipal and privately owned daycare facilities, 6) terms of employment for staff who work with children and young people in the daycare facility, 7) wishes/plans concerning area specialisation at vocational college level, 8) the relevance of the bachelor degree programme in social education, 9) wishes/plans for the bachelor programme and 10) other qualifying education programmes for daycare staff. The study shows that the preferred areas for further skills development are children with special needs, ICT (information, communication and technology) in daycare, and management in daycare. Moreover, the study shows that the bachelor degree programme in social education provides good skills with regard to play activities, learning and care, planning, conducting and assessing activities, as well as pedagogical development work. 54% of childcare assistants and other staff who work with children and young people would like to begin a formal vocational education and training programme. When asked about barriers to skills development, the financial situation in the daycare facility is mentioned and the fact that it is difficult to get replacement staff.

A questionnaire survey was conducted by sending a questionnaire both electronically and by post to a representative number of employees in Norwegian daycare facilities as well as the owners of the facilities. A total of 2,744 individuals participated in the study, corresponding to a response rate of 59%. The response rate was highest for daycare managers, and lowest for owners. The data material was analysed using descriptive statistics, describing how daycare employees and owners view the different aspects of skills development. Furthermore, the differences between different groups of employees, municipal and privately owned daycare facilities, and owners and employees were also analysed.

Gotvassli, K.Å. et al. (2012). Kompetansebehov i barnehagen: en kartlegging av eiere, styrere og ansattes vurderinger i forhold til kompetanseheving. Rapport 2012:1. Steinkjer: Trøndelag Forskning og Utvikling AS.