Att beakta barnets bästa i förskolan. En mixed methods-studie om rektorers och politikers uppfattningar

Abstract

'The best interests of the child' principle, originating from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, is often used in the early childhood education context. However, the principle appear as vague and therefore needs to be implemented in individual cases. In Swe-den, it is a responsibility for principals and local politicians to make sure that the best interests of the preschool child is a primary consideration in all actions concerning them. The aim of this study is to explore ideas held by principals and local politicians about what 'the best inter-ests of the child' as a principle implies and how they make sure that the principle is a primary consideration in their actions concerning children. Based on Bronfenbrenner's ecological sys-tems theory (1979), the intention further is to examine the relationship between the opinions held by principals and politicians respectively. The study, drawing on a mixed-methods procedure, applies a qualitative thematic analysis, a descriptive statistical analysis and an integration of the qualitative and quantitative elements. The results show that the politicians and principals emphasise similar as well as divergent ideas about what is crucial in 'the best interests of the child' principle. According to the politicians in the macrosystem, giving princi-pals necessary prerequisites to consider the best interests of the child is their responsibility. However, it appears as if the principals in the exosystem do not regard the given conditions as adequate in considering the best interests of the child. A significant finding is that communication between the exosystem and the macrosystem seems to be insufficient. There-fore, considering 'the best interests of the child' in all actions concerning preschool children seems difficult for both principals and politicians, and deserves further research.