Self-assessment of future educators on willingness to cooperate with parents of childrens with special needs

Kako je uključivanje djece s teškoćama u razvoju u redovite programe ranog i predškolskog odgoja i obrazovanja sve veće, tako je i potrebno što veće obrazovanje odgojitelja koji s tom djecom borave u skupini i ključni su faktor u procesu njihove socijalizacije. Suradnja između odgojitelja i roditelja djece s teškoćama u razvoju je izuzetno važna za pravilnu inkluziju djece i njihov pravilan rast i razvoj. Odgojitelji trebaju uvažavati roditelje kao primarne skrbnike djece i maksimalno ih uključivati u odgojno-obrazovni sustav, dok bi roditelji trebali uvažavati znanja i stručnost odgojitelja. Kako bi se zadovoljila pozitivna inkluzija djece te njihov uspješan razvoj, potrebna je uspješna suradnja roditelja i odgojitelja. U ovom radu pojašnjeni su pojmovi djeca s teškoćama u razvoju, darovita djeca te oblici suradnje između odgojitelja i roditelja. Cilj završnog rada je utvrditi osjećaju li se budući odgojitelji spremni za suradnju s roditeljima djece s posebnim potrebama, odnosno procjena kompetencija koje stječu tijekom sveučilišnog obrazovanja. Provedeno je istraživanje među studentima treće godine Ranog i predškolskog odgoja i obrazovanja na Fakultetu za odgojne i obrazovne znanosti, Sveučilišta Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku. Istraživanje je uključivalo kvantitativno istraživanje uz pomoć anketiranja među budućim odgojiteljima o spremnosti za suradnju s roditeljima djece s posebnim potrebama. As the inclusion of children with disabilities in regular programs of early and preschool education is increasing, it is necessary to increase the education of educators who stay with these children in a group and there are a key factor in the process of their socialization. Cooperation between educators and parents of children with disabilities is extremely important for the proper inclusion of children and their proper growth and development. Educators should respect parents as the primary caregivers of children and include them as much as possible in the educational system, while parents should respect the knowledge and expertise of educators. In order to satisfy the positive inclusion of children and their successful development, successful cooperation between parents and educators is needed.This thesis explains the concepts of children with disabilities, gifted children and forms of cooperation between educators and parents. The goal of the final thesis is to determine whether future educators feel ready to work with parents of children with special needs, i.e. assess the competencies they acquire during university education. A survey has been conducted among the students of third year of Preschool Education Studies at the Faculty of Education, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek. The survey included quantitative research with the help of questionnaire among future educators on the willingness to cooperate with parents of children with special needs.