Infant child care quality in Portugal: Associations with structural characteristics

Abstract

This study examines the quality of infant center care in Portugal through a multimeasure approach and investigates the associations among process quality dimensions and structural quality indicators. Ninety infant child care classrooms were observed during two full mornings with the ITERS-R, the CLASS-Infant and the CIS. Results revealed that a two-factor structure of process quality with the domains (a) Relationships and (b) Use of Space and Materials provided the best fit to the data. Of the structural indicators that were examined, teacher training showed the most robust relation to both process quality domains. In addition, classrooms with smaller groups and in centers located in non-urban areas were likely to show more sensitive relationships between teachers and infants. These findings have implications for public policy and professional development efforts on infant center care.

Structural characteristics and process quality in early childhood education and care

“…In Portuguese infant toddler centres, no differences were found in process quality regarding for-profit or non-profit centres (Barros and Aguiar, 2010 [74] ). However, a US study revealed that non-profit provision scored higher on a number of quality features, including health, safety and furnishing and aspects related to provisions for staff, but no differences were found for the quality of interactions (King et al, 2016 [114] ).…”

“…Smaller ratios and group size have been found to be related to higher overall process quality in the United States, China and Portugal (Barros and Aguiar, 2010 [74] ; Burchinal et al, 2002 [75] ; Hu et al, 2016a [64] ; Mashburn et al, 2008 [76] ; Philips et al, 2000 [77] ; Phillipsen et al, 1997 [78] ) and with responsive, warm and positive staff-child relations in particular (Burchinal et al, 2002 [75] ).…”

“…Concerning infant and toddler classrooms, smaller group size and child-staff ratios were related to higher process quality in the Flemish Community of Belgium, the Netherlands, in Portugal and the United States (Barros and Aguiar, 2010 [74] ; Barros et al, 2016 [9] ; Deynoot-Schaub and Riksen-Walraven, 2005 [118] ; Hulpia et al, 2016 [36] ; Jamison et al, 2014 [48] ; NICHD Early Child Care Research Network, 2000 [10] ; Thomason and La Paro, 2009 [6] ). This particularly concerned emotionally supportive interactions with children.…”

A Systematic Review of the Literature on Aspects Affecting Positive Classroom Climate in Multicultural Early Childhood Education

“…The analysis of the 14 articles selected for this review sheds light on aspects related to a positive classroom climate that can be categorized as "static" aspects, such as grouping, materials or decorative elements, or "dynamic" aspects, such as time or the quality of instruction, teacher-children interactions, and relationships with family members. These aspects can be grouped under the two dimensions that have been agreed upon in the literature to define quality in early childhood education: "structural aspects" and "pedagogical practices" (Andrews et al 2014;Barros et al 2016;Løkken et al 2018;Mathers et al 2014). In Fig.…”

The quality of early childhood education and care services in Greece

“…There is broad acceptance that quality in childcare services can be addressed by examining two commonly accepted components-structure and process (Howes and Rubenstein, 1983;Penn 2011;Phillipsen et al 1997;Beller et al 1996). Structural quality refers to components such as physical environment (buildings, space and materials), childstaff ratios, staff education and training, and curriculum that are more easily measurable in determining quality (Barros et al 2016;Slot et al 2015;OECD 2006). Process quality focuses on the nature of interactions between the children and teachers, among children, and among adults-teachers, parents, staff, and on the nature of leadership and pedagogy (Barros et al 2016;Slot 2017;Thomason and La Paro 2009;Vandell and Wolfe 2000a;Cryer 1999;Goelman et al 2006).…”