A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

All ready for action in inclusive classrooms? Conceptions of the tiered support framework, professional roles, and collaboration among Finnish pre-service teachers




AuthorsYada, Akie; Björn, Piia Maria; Savolainen, Pirjo; Kyttälä, Minna

PublisherTaylor & Francis

Publication year2025

Journal: International Journal of Inclusive Education

ISSN1360-3116

eISSN1464-5173

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2025.2581766

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13603116.2025.2581766

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/505143272


Abstract

The idea of inclusive education became prevalent around the world. To implement inclusive education, some countries adopt a multi-tiered support framework to support children with special educational needs. Although Finland introduced this framework already in 2010, few studies have investigated how pre-service teachers understand its implementation and multi-professional collaboration. This study examined pre-service teachers’ conceptions of the multi-tiered support framework, professional roles, and collaboration in Finland. Data were collected from 139 pre-service teachers using questionnaires. Cluster analysis identified four pre-service teacher profiles: ‘Support knowing-doing gap’, ‘Support positive’, ‘Support negative’, and ‘Three-tiered support negative’, revealing a knowing-doing gap in the implementation of the support framework. Furthermore, the result indicates that some pre-service teachers were more critical of the multi-tiered support framework than of multi-professional collaboration, possibly due to the framework’s relative novelty. This study provides useful insights for developing pre – and in-service teacher education regarding inclusive education.


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Funding information in the publication
This project was supported by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture [grant number OKM/JY/79/592/2018]. The work by Akie Yada was funded by The Centre of Excellence for Learning Dynamics and Intervention Research (InterLearn CoE) in the Research Council of Finland's Center of Excellence Programme (2022-2029) (JYU-EDU/Aro 346120, JYU-PSY/Leppänen 346119, UTU/Korja 346121).


Last updated on 04/11/2025 01:51:16 PM