Perceived Barriers and Facilitators in Infant-Toddler Day Care Inclusion: The Childcare Professionals' Point of View

This research aims to analyse the barriers and facilitators to enrolling a toddler in inclusive day care facilities. Data were gathered from ten (N = 10) childcare providers who work in inclusive day care centres in Paris, France. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using the thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke in Qual Res Psychol 3(2):77-101, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa). The emerging categories related to barriers were the challenges induced by the disability itself, childcare provider's emotional exhaustion and parental and childcare providers' perceptions on disability. Facilitators included space adjustment of the day care facility and adequate equipment, specialized inclusive practices, training programmes, support within the childcare team, skills recognition and sense of competence and, finally, partnerships and cooperation with specialized settings. Further implications for practice and research are discussed.