The Rulebooks of Private Early Childhood Education Vouchers

An Obstacle or Enabler for Inclusive Early Childhood Education

Authors

• Elina Fonsén Jyväskylän yliopisto https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2547-905X
• Jaana Pesonen Helsingin yliopisto https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5520-0902
• Satu Valkonen Helsingin yliopisto https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9577-7266
• Piia Nuora Jyväskylän yliopisto https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2639-1201

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33350/ka.156422

Keywords:

public management, inclusion, private early childhood education, the municipal rulebooks of the voucher for ECE

Abstract

The present study is concerned with an investigation into the management of inclusive early childhood education (ECE) within the framework of public management values.   The primary focus of this research is the rulebooks of private early childhood education vouchers (N=32) that have been established by municipalities, with a particular emphasis on the terms they contain for facilitating inclusion. The objective of our review is to elucidate how these terms influence the promotion or restriction of inclusive ECE. In addition, we examine the implications of the interpretative nature of the regulations and public management values for the leading inclusive ECE in the municipal context. Theory driven content analysis was used to identify the terms promoting the inclusive rights of the child and equal treatment of the families (n = 113): increasing the value of the service voucher, being heard, non-discrimination and permanence. The limiting terms (n = 56) were: limiting families’ possibilities for choice and denying special support. Also, interpretive terms and terms reflecting the ambiguity of equality and the inclusive rights of the child were found which highlight the importance of the values in public management in the interpretation.