Supporting Nursery Teachers as Childcare Professionals :

Mutual Support among Nursery Teachers in a Local Childcare Support Activity

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine various supports for childcare personnel in local childcare support activities and to clarify the possible supports and their characteristics. Fieldwork and interviews indicate that the situation of supporting the childcare personnel can be best understood from multidimensional viewpoints. Nursery teachers can support each other based on their personal relationships and a daycare center can provide organizational and structural support. This support should be clearly described as to purpose and method, and implemented in concrete ways so that childcare personnel may enhance the quality of their childcare. Structure and planning are necessary for the support management.