A1 Journal article (refereed)
At the fringes of transitions : socio-spatial constitution of transitions within early childhood education and care institutions in Finland (2023)

Harju, K., Paananen, M., Vuorisalo, M., & Rutanen, N. (2023). At the fringes of transitions : socio-spatial constitution of transitions within early childhood education and care institutions in Finland. International Journal of Early Years Education, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2023.2259434

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Harju, Kaisa; Paananen, Maiju; Vuorisalo, Mari; Rutanen, Niina

Journal or series: International Journal of Early Years Education

ISSN: 0966-9760

eISSN: 1469-8463

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 19/09/2023

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2023.2259434

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/89217

Abstract

This study focuses on transitions that emerge between the child’s first transition from home to early childhood education and care (ECEC) and the transition to pre-primary education in Finnish centre-based ECEC. Group-based organisation of Finnish ECEC produces transitions between groups within settings but children transition between centres also. The aim is to reach the fringes of transition focusing on other change processes children encounter during their years in ECEC. Thus, transition is defined as a relationally constituted change process framed by educational institutions and their practices. We examine how children’s lived spaces of transition are socio-spatially constituted. Two analytical narratives from a longitudinal, multimethods multi-case study dataset are presented as examples of relational socio-spatial constitution of transitions. Henri Lefebvre’s theory about production of social space is applied. We discuss how educational transitions within ECEC as relational processes concerns children who are not designated to move from one group or centre to another. For them, the relationality of transitions rearranges groups and centres as networks of socio-spatial relations in various, context-specific ways, constituting lived spaces of transitions.

Keywords: early childhood education and care; transitional phases; preschool education; day care; day care centres; children (age groups); social relations; space

Free keywords: transition; early childhood education and care; Henri Lefebvre; relational space; socio-spatial relations

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Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2023

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1