Training and Practice of Occupationals Who Work with Children Aged from Zero to Two in Institutions of Childhood Education

Abstract

The education of the children aged up to 2 years old is a current and necessary concern on childhood education. There are only a few studies in the area and the official documents do not satisfactorily contemplate this age group. This paper presents results of a research developed between 2011 and 2013, with the objective of understanding the effects of continuing education practices on the qualification of occupationals who work with children aged up to 2 years old, in institutions of childhood education of an average-sized city in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. In order to do so, we performed four assessment procedures (initial, intermediate, final and after six months) which included the individual communications (questionnaires and interviews) and participant observations of everyday practice in the nurseries. We applied two educational procedures in-between the assessments-educational workshops and practice monitoring. The contents of results were analyzed for the comparison of data from the different stages. This paper presented the results from the opinions of 50 participants regarding the procedures developed for the training-workshop and practice monitoring-discussed in two themes: background knowledge and practices; and the training of nursery occupational. The analysis highlighted the need for the implementa-F. C. F. de Vitta et al. 1509 tion of initial training on the specific reality and the continuing monitoring in service, according to the occupational practice and the nursery situation.