Supporting Growth and Development in Early Childhood Education (5cr)

Evaluation scale

0 - 5

Content scheduling

Course Content:

Inclusive Early Childhood Education
Multi-professional Collaboration in Networks
The Role of the Bachelor of Social Services in Supporting Children and Families
Exam

Objective

The students will know how to compile a child’s personal early childhood education plan.
They will understand the role of the social services professional in early childhood education in the implementation of multidisciplinary cooperation and networking.
They will understand the background to why some children need more support than others and can adopt a professional approach to the different life situations of families.
They will be able to guide families in the use of social services sensitively, appropriately and utilizing network skills.
The students will understand confidentiality and related legislation.
The students will knows the special pedagogical practices of early childhood education to support the individual growth and development of the child.

Other recommended studies: to be discussed with the study counsellor in the personal study plan review.

Content

Individuality, early intervention, emergence and identification of growth and development problems, special education, support for growth and development in early childhood, co-operation and services, interdisciplinary co-operation, inclusion, personal early childhood education plan, child welfare, differentiation, structure of and constructing learning environments and activities, cooperation with the home, solution centredness, resource-based approach

Location and time

Course Duration: January 1 – April 30, 2026

Online Learning:
Includes online lectures and completion of required tasks in the learning environment.

Contact Teaching:
Location: KAMK, Taito2 building, Ketunpolku 4, Kajaani.

Assignment Submission:
Learning tasks have scheduled deadlines (submission dates can be found in Reppu under each task).

Final Exam:
The final exam must be submitted by April 30, 2026 at the latest.

Schedule:
See the detailed contact teaching schedule in the Tuudo app or Lukkarikone.

Materials

Self-Study Material:
Available in the Reppu learning environment.

Course Literature:
Pihlaja, P. & Viitala, R. (toim.) (2022). Varhaiserityiskasvatus. PS-kustannus

Niemelä, H-L. & Välivaara, C. (2021). Sijoitettu lapsi varhaiskasvatuksessa. Opas lasten kanssa työskenteleville.

Araneva, M. 2022. Lapsen suojelu - toteuttaminen ja päätöksenteko. Alma talent. Helsinki.

Teaching methods

Independent Study in an Online Learning Environment:
Includes a preliminary knowledge survey, assignments, an exam, and participation in online discussions.

Contact Teaching:
Features guest speakers from working life, collaborative learning activities related to the course content, and simulation exercises. Additionally, students will participate in teaching sessions organized during the International Week (Week 7) as part of the course.

Employer connections

Contact Teaching Includes Guest Speakers from Working Life.

Exam schedules

Mandatory Exam:
Students may complete the exam at a time of their choosing between March 1 and April 30, 2026.
The exam can be taken once, with the possibility of two retakes.

Completion alternatives

The course includes mandatory contact teaching, during which students will engage with the course content.

The course also includes a mandatory exam, which students can complete at a time of their choosing between March 1 and April 30, 2026.

Student workload

The course is worth 5 ECTS credits.
One ECTS credit corresponds to approximately 27 hours of student work, meaning the entire course equals about 135 hours of student workload.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student will be able to relate to the learning outcomes:
Information:
- use key/individual concepts of his/her professional field appropriately
- name and describe the basic knowledge of his/her profession.
Skills:
- act appropriately, although the action may still be uncertain
- act appropriately in different learning and working environments under guidance
- make appropriate use of techniques and models in their professional field.
Attitudes:
- act professionally in client situations
- act as a member of a team and be respectful of other members of the team
- Act in accordance with professional ethical principles.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student will be able to relate to the learning outcomes:
Information:
- use the concepts of his/her profession in a coherent way
- Consistently identify, describe and justify the basic knowledge of the profession.
Skills:
- select appropriate courses of action on the basis of acquired knowledge and guidance
- assess and reflect on their own knowledge and practices in their profession
- act independently and responsibly in a variety of tasks in the context of the learning and working environment.
environment
- apply appropriate techniques and models to the activities of their profession.
Attitudes:
- work in a customer-oriented, goal-oriented and professionally oriented manner
- work as a member of a team to achieve a common goal
- justify their actions in accordance with professional ethical principles.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student will be able to relate to the learning outcomes:
Information:
- use and relate concepts from his/her field of work in a competent and comprehensive manner
The professional competence of his/her field of work and his/her knowledge of his/her field of work and his/her combination of skills and competences.
Skills:
- analyse, compare, synthesise and select information and present alternative approaches
- analyse, reflect and critically evaluate their own knowledge and professional competence
reflect, analyse, reflect and analyse the knowledge and practices of their profession on the basis of the information acquired.
- to act independently, responsibly, proactively and flexibly in a given learning and working environment
- in the learning and working environment
- select, critically evaluate and use techniques and models in their professional field
in their work.
Attitudes:
- act in a customer-oriented, goal-oriented and work-oriented manner
- to work as a member of a team to promote and develop team activities
- Critically apply professional ethical principles in their work.

Further information

Learning Materials:
All course materials are available in the Reppu learning environment.
Log in to Reppu using your HAKA credentials and enter the course key on Reppu’s front page.