575 research outputs found
Inclusive early childhood education : an analysis of 32 European examples
This report is part of the three-year Inclusive Early Childhood Education (IECE)
project run by the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education (the
Agency) from 2015 to 2017. The project aims to identify, analyse and subsequently
promote the main characteristics of quality inclusive pre-primary education for all
children from three years of age to the start of primary education.
This report presents the results of a qualitative analysis of 32 descriptions of
examples of IECE provisions across Europe. The descriptions were submitted to the
project in August 2015. The findings represent European practitionersâ perceptions
of and practices for IECE.
An inductive thematic data analysis method was used, in that themes or issues were
initially derived from reading the descriptions. This inductive process was, however,
also intertwined with relevant theory, particularly the Agencyâs âultimate vision for
inclusive education systemsâ that:
... ensure that all learners of any age are provided with meaningful, highâquality
educational opportunities in their local community, alongside their friends and
peers(European Agency, 2015, p. 1).
In total, 25 subthemes were identified. These were organised into a new Ecosystem
Model of Inclusive Early Childhood Education, which is also presented in a
comprehensive diagram (Figure 1). Two major perspectives previously used in
describing the quality of ECE settings inspired this new model. These are the
Outcome-Process-Structure model and the Ecological Systems model. The
subthemes were subsequently grouped into five main themes:
⢠Theme 1: The first main and central theme is âChild belongingness, engagement
and learningâ, often generally understood as active participation. This
participation is regarded as both the main outcome and process of IECE.
⢠Theme 2: Five major processesinvolving the childâs direct experience in the IECE
setting enable this central outcome and process. These processes are:
â Positive interaction with adults and peers
â Involvement in play and other daily activities
â A child-centred approach
â Personalised assessment for learning
â Accommodations, adaptations and support.
⢠Theme 3: These processes are in turn supported by structural factors, consisting
of the physical, social, cultural and educational environment. These factors may operate at different ecological levels. Some operate within the ECE setting and
include:
â A warm welcome for every child and family
â Family involvement within the ECE setting.
â A holistic curriculum designed for all childrenâs needs
â An environment designed for all children
â Staff who are appropriately qualified for IECE
â A culturally-responsive social and physical environment
â Inclusive leadership committed to respect and engagement for all
individuals
â Collaboration and shared responsibility among all stakeholders.
⢠Theme 4: Inclusive processes experienced by the child are also influenced by
more distant structural factors in the community surrounding the ECE setting.
These include:
â Collaboration between the ECE setting and the childrenâs families
â Relevant in-service training for ECE staff
â Wider community commitment and support for serving all children
â Inter-disciplinary and inter-agency co-operation of services from outside
the ECE setting that serve the children in the pre-school
â Organising smooth transitions between home and the ECE setting.
⢠Theme 5: Finally, the analysis found a number of structural factors operating at
the macro-system level. These factors were not in direct contact with the ECE
setting. However, they still influenced inclusive processes in the setting. They
are:
â A rights-based approach to ECE
â Provision of mainstream ECE access for all
â Setting up regional/national standards for a holistic IECE curriculum
â Availability of initial education for teachers and other staff for IECE
â Good governance and funding systems for IECE
â Procedures for regular monitoring and evaluation.
This overview of the ecosystem of outcomes, processes and structures for IECE is
presented in the Results chapter. Five evidence-based chapters, dedicated to each of the five main themes, follow this. Each chapter presents a brief description of
each of the outcome, process or structural factors within each main theme. These
are accompanied by one to five quotations from each of the 32 example
descriptions. The quotations illustrate and provide concrete evidence of what
constitutes quality outcomes, processes and structures that are prevalent across
Europe.
The quotations were chosen both to reflect the different types of IECE concepts and
practices, and to reflect the variety of countries and cultures where they occur. They
are intended to stimulate inclusive developments in research, policy and practice in
Europe and internationally.
Finally, the Conclusion highlights the added value that this analysis contributes to
IECE research, policy and practice. Four new insights are addressed:
1. The development of the new Ecosystem Model of IECE, inspired by two
previous major models, should clarify the understanding of the issues related
to quality ECE.
2. The analysis shows how, within an inclusive perspective, IECEâs primary goal is
best conceived as that of ensuring quality outcomes for all children in terms of
participation. This is described here as belongingness, engagement and
learning.
3. The analysis shines a new light on the major processes in which children are
directly involved and which mostinfluence each childâs participation and
learning. These need to be a major focus of any intervention to improve ECE
quality.
4. The analysis clarifies the structural factors needed to support the development
of more inclusive ECE settings. It also shows how these factors are related to
local and national policies and practices. Situating the structures at the ECE
setting, community and regional/national levels isimportant in levering them
to bring about the changes needed to enable each child to participate and
learn.peer-reviewe
A Bias-Aware EnKF Estimator for Aerodynamic Flows
Ensemble methods can integrate measurement data and CFD-based models to estimate the state of fluid systems in a robust and cost-efficient way. However, discretization errors can render numerical solutions a biased representation of reality. Left unaccounted for, biased forecast and observation models can lead to poor estimator performance. In this work, we propose a low-rank representation for the bias whose dynamics is represented by a colorednoise process. System state and bias parameters are simultaneously corrected on-line with the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) algorithm. The proposed methodology is demonstrated to achieve a 70% error reduction for the problem of estimating the state of the two-dimensional low-Re flow past a flat plate at high angle of attack using an ensemble of coarse-mesh simulations and pressure measurements at the surface of the body, compared to a bias-blind estimator. Strategies to determine the bias statistics and to deal with nonlinear observation functions in the context of ensemble methods are discussed
Inclusive early childhood education new insights and tools â contributions from a European study
Quality in early childhood education is a prominent concern for policy-makers, and has
recently become a priority concern for many international and European organisations.
These include the OECD, UNESCO, UNICEF, the European Commission, Eurydice and the
European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education, among others.
Over the past three years (2015â2017), the European Agency for Special Needs and
Inclusive Education (the Agency) has examined the latest policy documents and relevant
research in this field. This has been a springboard for exploring the main characteristics of
quality inclusive early childhood education (IECE) for all children from three years of age to
the start of primary education.
The project data from across Europe has provided an opportunity to closely examine how,
within the inclusion perspective, early childhood education provisions are addressing the
quality principles set out by the European Commission and the OECD.
Sixty-four inclusive early childhood education experts from across Europe contributed to
the project. They participated in data collection and analysis through descriptions of
example provisions, as well as observations and discussions during field work and case
study visits.
This report first sets out the main policy and practice developments towards inclusive
early childhood education, with particular reference to European policy issues
(Chapters 2â3).
It then presents the projectâs three new contributions towards improving quality inclusive
early childhood education (Chapters 4â6). These are:
1. A clear rationale for and an analysis of the implications of adopting an inclusive
vision and goals as the main standards of inclusive early childhood policy and
provision. The project found that high-quality services that benefited all children
were guided by an inclusive vision and worked towards inclusive goals. As their
primary outcome, they sought to ensure each childâs belongingness, engagement
and learning. This reflects the changes in early childhood intervention in recent decades. The focus has shifted from âworking with the childâ towards a holistic
approach that creates an inclusive environment for all childrenâs engagement and
learning. The report thus refers to quality early childhood education (ECE) as
âinclusive early childhood educationâ (IECE). It only uses the terms âearly childhood
educationâ (ECE) or âearly childhood education and careâ (ECEC) when referring to
the literature.
2. A new Self-Reflection Tool for improving inclusive early childhood education
settings. This enables practitioners to review their serviceâs quality in terms of the
inclusiveness of the physical, social and other learning environments it offers to
children and families. The tool has been validated by project experts and additional
ecological studies. It is ready for use by practitioners in inclusive early childhood
education settings in different education systems and countries across Europe and
beyond.
3. A new Ecosystem Model of Inclusive Early Childhood Education for policy-makers
and other stakeholders wishing to collaborate towards effective action in this field.
This model can support policy-makers and practitioners to collaborate in planning,
reviewing and improving quality IECE services. The model is founded on the project
data. It is inspired by three major frameworks for quality IECE, namely:
(1) The structure-process-outcome framework used by European and international
policy-makers (European Commission, 2014; OECD, 2015; European Agency,
2009)
(2) The ecological systems framework (Bronfenbrenner and Morris, 2006)
(3) The inclusive education perspective (European Agency, 2015).
It incorporates all the principles of the EU and OECD frameworks for quality early
childhood education. However, it enhances their applicability by locating them at
different ecological levels (inclusive early childhood education setting,
home/community and regional/national levels).
Finally, the report gives an account of the lessons learned during the three-year project
and the resulting recommendations (Chapter 7). These are presented within the
framework of the new Ecosystem Model of IECE. They are mainly directed at policy-
makers, but they also point to the implications for practitioners. Indeed, they are
formulated in terms of how policy-makers can support practitioners to ensure quality
provisions.peer-reviewe
Inclusive early childhood education environment self-reflection tool
This Self-Reflection Tool was developed as part of the Inclusive Early Childhood Education
(IECE) project, conducted by the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive
Education from 2015 to 2017 (www.european-agency.org/agency-projects/inclusive-early-
childhood-education). The projectâs overall goal was to identify, analyse and subsequently
promote the main characteristics of quality IECE for all children. To that end, a need was
detected for a tool that all professionals and staff could use to reflect on their settingâs
inclusiveness, focusing on the social, learning and physical environment. This tool is
intended to help improve settingsâ inclusiveness.peer-reviewe
Population assessment of future trajectories in coronary heart disease mortality.
Background:
Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates have been decreasing in Iceland since the 1980s, largely
reflecting improvements in cardiovascular risk factors. The purpose of this study was to predict future CHD mortality in
Iceland based on potential risk factor trends.
Methods and findings:
The previously validated IMPACT model was used to predict changes in CHD mortality between 2010 and 2040 among the projected population of Iceland aged 25â74. Calculations were based on combining: i) data on population numbers and projections (Statistics Iceland), ii) population risk factor levels and projections (Refine Reykjavik study), and iii) effectiveness of specific risk factor reductions (published meta-analyses). Projections for three contrasting
scenarios were compared: 1) If the historical risk factor trends of past 30 years were to continue, the declining death rates of past decades would level off, reflecting population ageing. 2) If recent trends in risk factors (past 5 years) continue, this would result in a death rate increasing from 49 to 70 per 100,000. This would reflect a recent plateau in previously falling cholesterol levels and recent rapid increases in obesity and diabetes prevalence. 3) Assuming that in 2040 the entire population enjoys optimal risk factor levels observed in low risk cohorts, this would prevent almost all premature CHD deaths before 2040.
Conclusions:
The potential increase in CHD deaths with recent trends in risk factor levels is alarming both for Iceland and
probably for comparable Western populations. However, our results show considerable room for reducing CHD mortality.
Achieving the best case scenario could eradicate premature CHD deaths by 2040. Public health policy interventions based
on these predictions may provide a cost effective means of reducing CHD mortality in the future
Editor's Choice - Assessment of International Outcomes of Intact Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair over 9 Years
Background: Case mix and outcomes of complex surgical procedures vary over time and between regions. This study analyses peri-operative mortality after intact abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in 11 countries over 9 years. Methods: Data on primary AAA repair from vascular surgery registries in 11 countries for the years 2005-2009 and 2010-2013 were analysed. Multivariate adjusted logistic regression analyses were carried out to adjust for variations in case mix. Results: A total of 83,253 patients were included. Over the two periods, the proportion of patients >= 80 years old increased (18.5% vs. 23.1%; p <.0001) as did the proportion of endovascular repair (EVAR) (44.3% vs. 60.6; p <.0001). In the latter period, 25.8% of AAAs were less than 5.5 cm. The mean annual volume of open repairs per centre decreased from 12.9 to 10.6 between the two periods (p <.0001), and it increased for EVAR from 10.0 to 17.1 (p <.0001). Overall, peri-operative mortality fell from 3.0% to 2.4% (p <.0001). Mortality for EVAR decreased from 1.5% to 1.1% (p <.0001), but the outcome worsened for open repair from 3.9% to 4.4% (p = .008). The peri-operative risk was greater for octogenarians (overall, 3.6% vs. 2.1%, p <.0001; open, 9.5% vs. 3.6%, p <.0001; EVAR, 1.8% vs. 0.7%, p <.0001), and women (overall, 3.8% vs. 2.2%, p <.0001; open, 6.0% vs. 4.0%, p <.0001; EVAR, 1.9% vs. 0.9%, p <.0001). Peri-operative mortality after repair of AAAs Conclusions: In this large international cohort, total peri-operative mortality continues to fall for the treatment of intact AAAs. The number of EVAR procedures now exceeds open procedures. Mortality after EVAR has decreased, but mortality for open operations has increased. The peri-operative mortality for small AM treatment, particularly open surgical repair, is still considerable and should be weighed against the risk of rupture. (C) 2017 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe
Amended Classification of the Open Abdomen
Background: In 2009, a classification system for the open abdomen was introduced. The aim of such a classification is to aid the (1) description of the patient's clinical course; (2) standardization of clinical guidelines for guiding open abdomen management; and (3) facilitation of comparisons between studies and heterogeneous patient populations, thus serving as an aid in clinical research. Methods: As part of the revision of the definitions and clinical guidelines performed by the World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome, this 2009 classification system was amended following a review of experiences in teaching and research and published as part of updated consensus statements and clinical practice guidelines in 2013. Among 29 articles citing the 2009 classification system, nine were cohort studies. They were reviewed as part of the classification revision process. A total of 542 patients (mean: 60, range: 9-160) had been classified. Two problems with the previous classification system were identified: the definition of enteroatmospheric fistulae, and that an enteroatmospheric fistula was graded less severe than a frozen abdomen. Results: The following amended classification was proposed: Grade 1, without adherence between bowel and abdominal wall or fixity of the abdominal wall (lateralization), subdivided as follows: 1A, clean; 1B, contaminated; and 1C, with enteric leak. An enteric leak controlled by closure, exteriorization into a stoma, or a permanent enterocutaneous fistula is considered clean. Grade 2, developing fixation, subdivided as follows: 2A, clean; 2B, contaminated; and 2C, with enteric leak. Grade 3, frozen abdomen, subdivided as follows: 3A clean and 3B contaminated. Grade 4, an established enteroatmospheric fistula, is defined as a permanent enteric leak into the open abdomen, associated with granulation tissue. Conclusions: The authors believe that, with these changes, the requirements on a functional and dynamic classification system, useful in both research and training, will be fulfilled. We encourage future investigators to apply the system and report on its merits and constraints.Peer reviewe
Editor's Choice - Carotid Stenosis Treatment : Variation in International Practice Patterns
Objectives: The aim was to determine current practice for the treatment of carotid stenosis among 12 countries participating in the International Consortium of Vascular Registries (ICVR). Methods: Data from the United States Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) and the Vascunet registry collaboration (including 10 registries in Europe and Australasia) were used. Variation in treatment modality of asymptomatic versus symptomatic patients was analysed between countries and among centres within each country. Results: Among 58,607 procedures, octogenarians represented 18% of all patients, ranging from 8% (Hungary) to 22% (New Zealand and Australia). Women represented 36%, ranging from 29% (Switzerland) to 40% (USA). The proportion of carotid artery stenting (CAS) among asymptomatic patients ranged from 0% (Finland) to 26% (Sweden) and among symptomatic patients from 0% (Denmark) to 19% (USA). Variation among centres within countries for CAS was highest in the United States and Australia (from 0% to 80%). The overall proportion of asymptomatic patients was 48%, but varied from 0% (Denmark) to 73% (Italy). There was also substantial centre level variation within each country in the proportion of asymptomatic patients, most pronounced in Australia (0-72%), Hungary (5-55%), and the United States (0-100%). Countries with fee for service reimbursement had higher rates of treatment in asymptomatic patients than countries with population based reimbursement (OR 5.8, 95% CI 4.4-7.7). Conclusions: Despite evidence about treatment options for carotid artery disease, the proportion of asymptomatic patients, treatment modality, and the proportion of women and octogenarians vary considerably among and within countries. There was a significant association of treating more asymptomatic patients in countries with fee for service reimbursement. The findings reflect the inconsistency of the existing guidelines and a need for cooperation among guideline committees all over the world. (C) 2017 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe
Realisation of magnetically and atomically abrupt half-metal/semiconductor interface: Co2FeSi0.5Al0.5/Ge(111)
Halfmetal-semiconductor interfaces are crucial for hybrid spintronic devices. Atomically sharp interfaces with high spin polarisation are required for efficient spin injection. In this work we show that thin film of half-metallic full Heusler alloy Co2FeSi0.5Al0.5 with uniform thickness and B2 ordering can form structurally abrupt interface with Ge(111). Atomic resolution energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy reveals that there is a small outdiffusion of Ge into specific atomic planes of the Co2FeSi0.5Al0.5 film, limited to a very narrow 1ânm interface region. First-principles calculations show that this selective outdiffusion along the Fe-Si/Al atomic planes does not change the magnetic moment of the film up to the very interface. Polarized neutron reflectivity, x-ray reflectivity and aberration-corrected electron microscopy confirm that this interface is both magnetically and structurally abrupt. Finally, using first-principles calculations we show that this experimentally realised interface structure, terminated by Co-Ge bonds, preserves the high spin polarization at the Co2FeSi0.5Al0.5/Ge interface, hence can be used as a model to study spin injection from half-metals into semiconductors
- âŚ