Parental cooperation in preschool : An ethnographically inspired case study based on preschool teachers' and preschool directors' expressed approaches

The purpose of this study is to show how opportunities for influence and participation through parenting in preschool, where parents have different cultural background than Swedish, is constructed by preschool teachers and preschool directors. The present study is based on a quality approach with semi-structured interviews as a method. Four preschool-teachers and two preschool directors were interviewed. I interviewed the informants about how they reason about parental cooperation and what opportunities for influence and participation the parents with different cultural background have. The results of the study show that preschool teachers and directors have a conscious attitude towards cultural diversity. Communication difficulties and lack of knowledge about the preschool´s assignments emerged as the elements that make collaboration more difficult. The result, however, shows creativity, strong will and cultural openness among other qualities of preschool teachers and directors. They have developed an intercultural perspective, though to varying degrees. Employees with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds are appreciated from both preschool-teachers and the directors. Their presence, linguistic and cultural knowledge facilitate the work of collaboration. The study also shows that parents have chances to participate, while their influence is limited to preschool survey and PTAmeetings. The preschool teachers, however, hope that parenting cooperation would be expanded with the help of the Schoolplattform