Education in segregated settings for pupils with intellectual disability (ID) has often been portrayed as a unified form of schooling. There is a risk of providing a simplified picture of these settings and of what pupils with ID need to learn. This is generally stipulated in policy documents, leaving room for staff in school to interpret…

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare Norwegian (n = 320) and Swedish (n = 425) special educators' reported practices and beliefs about key aspects of their profession. Data was collected via surveys sent to graduates of special education programmes at four universities who completed their studies between 2001 and 2012. A…

This study aims to develop knowledge about how 'the Deviant' is produced through identificatory mapping materials that operate in Swedish preschools. This is achieved by identifying and critically reviewing a base of mapping materials commonly used in Swedish ECEC today, focusing on how the documents per se, and the formulations therein, risk…

This article is based on an extensive study of teaching-learning processes in special educational settings organised for children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There is a general assumption that children's learning will be supported through placement in a special class with few students and one or more teachers…

"Positive Special Education" spotlights the power of positive special education, combining insights from researchers and teachers in special education from several countries. The expert team of authors, being both teachers and academics, highlight the powerful influence of teachers fostering optimistic approaches as well as the impact a…

This article uses neoinstitutional theory to comparatively analyze different actors' institutional work with "problematic school absenteeism". Data was generated around four cases, each consisting of absent students and actors who work with absenteeism. The results describe how a dichotomous view of students' well-being and knowledge…

This study aimed to explore parents' and teachers' meaning making of children's learning in transitions from preschool to school, for 5-7-year-old children with intellectual disability (ID). Although educational transitions is a growing area of research there is limited research about educational transitions of children with ID. These children…

The purpose of this study was to explore similarities and differences between special educator preparation in Norway and in Sweden. Graduates of special education programmes at two Norwegian (n = 320) and two Swedish universities (n = 425) who completed their training between 2001 and 2012 responded to surveys. Findings indicate that both Swedish…

Sweden is internationally regarded as an inclusive educational system. This study explores how teacher education programmes in Sweden have been organised as regards inclusive education (IE). Specifically, the study examines how teacher candidates and staff perceive teacher pre-service training for IE in terms of its curriculum and pedagogical…

Teachers' and special educators' attitudes towards research-based work differ but remains poorly understudied. This study predicts Swedish teachers' and special educators' attitudes towards (a) research-based work and (b) inviting researchers to schools. The data comes from a survey with a convenience sample of more than 300 teachers and special…

The inclusion agenda has influenced education systems around the world, resulting in better access to mainstream education for pupils with special educational needs (SEN). While numerous studies have compared outcomes of pupils with SEN in mainstream and special educational settings, research on the specific characteristics of these settings…

Students with special educational needs (SEN) are systematically hindered in their participation in test-taking and, as a result, are also excluded from participating in high-quality learning. Hence, participation in the assessment situation is connected to power relations and future prospects and possibilities to participate in society. This…

The academic terms and the periods of the courses related to the language development and communication differs considerably in the programs of the countries which train teachers for the special education department. The aim of this study is to examine the contents and credits of the communication and the language development courses in Teacher…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the different support systems used by teachers in compulsory education. Class and subject teachers and special educators from Finland (N = 57) and Sweden (N = 57) participated in the study, in which both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. Participants completed an electronic questionnaire…

The aim of the present study was to examine and describe educational leaders' mindset types related to schooling of students with ADHD in five municipalities with ADHD special education classes and in five pair-matched municipalities without such classes. Selection of the ten municipalities was based on the results from a nationwide survey…