Browsing by Author "Barros, Silvia"
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- Infant child care quality in Portugal: Associations with structural characteristicsPublication . Barros, Silvia; Cadima, Joana; Bryant, Donna M.; Coelho, Vera; Pinto, Ana Isabel; Pessanha, Manuela; Peixoto, CarlaThis study examines the quality of infant center care in Portugal through a multi-measure 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.
- Literature review on early childhood education and care for children under the age of 3Publication . Coelho, Vera; Cadima, Joana; Nata, Gil; Barros, Silvia; Barata, ClaraThis literature review provides an up-to-date comprehensive overview of what is known about process quality in early childhood education and care (ECEC) provision for children under age 3. It builds on empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2019. Current views on process quality for children under age 3 highlight that process quality is a multidimensional and value-laden concept. But there is growing agreement on several core features, namely, the prominence of warm/responsive interactions, the value of both education and care and the importance of strong partnerships with parents. Recent studies show positive links between process quality and infant/toddler development. The evidence is relatively robust in terms of the influences of staff preservice training, group size and ratios for process quality in centre-based settings, although more limited for home-based settings. Nevertheless, consideration of complex interactions among structural features is noted. Recent studies further advance knowledge on more finegrained understandings of process quality.
- Transição de bebés do contexto familiar para a creche: práticas e ideias dos profissionaisPublication . Peixoto, Carla; Coelho, Vera; Pinto, Ana Isabel; Cadima, Joana; Barros, Silvia; Pessanha, Manuela: A creche representa, atualmente, um dos contextos principais de desenvolvimento de bebés, sendo a transição do contexto familiar para a creche um momento crítico para os bebés e respetivas famílias (e.g., Balaban, 2011; Merril, 2010). O presente estudo visa descrever as práticas de transição de bebés do contexto familiar para a creche, implementadas em instituições da grande área metropolitana do Porto, Portugal, assim como conhecer a utilidade destas práticas tal como percebida pelos profissionais a desempenhar funções nos berçários. No âmbito do projeto de investigação "Transição dos bebés para a creche: comunicação família-creche, qualidade dos contextos e adaptação do bebé", 90 profissionais de educação responderam, entre Setembro de 2013 e Março de 2014, ao Questionário sobre características estruturais - Berçário (ECCE Study Group, 1997, adaptação de Barros, Pessanha, Pinto, & Cadima, 2013) e ao Questionário sobre práticas de transição dos bebés para a creche (Peixoto, Pinto, & Barros, 2013). Pese embora alguns constrangimentos à implementação de determinadas práticas, os resultados ilustram a preocupação dos profissionais com a adaptação dos bebés e das suas famílias ao contexto de creche, na medida em que estes relatam a implementação de um conjunto diverso de práticas de transição recomendadas na literatura