Abstract:
Transition of early childhood education learners with special needs from home to preschools has been low and has been a concern to many education stakeholders. Thus, the study intended to assess the parental dynamics influencing the transition of children with special needs from home to preschools in Narok South Sub County, Kenya. The objectives of the study included: To examine the influence of parental level of education on transition, to investigate the influence of parental occupations on transition and to establish the influence of family background on the transition of children with special needs from home to preschools in Narok South Sub County. The study was guided by The Ecological Systems Theory. The study used mixed methods approach and then applied concurrent triangulation research design. The target population for this study comprised of 54 head teachers, 3 Educational Assessment and Resource Center officers, 162 preprimary teachers and 324 parents’ representatives were selected all totaling to 543. Stratified sampling was applied to create 3 strata based on the number of educational divisions in Narok South Sub-county. From each zone, 9 Head teachers and 9 pre-primary teachers were selected using purposive sampling. Systematic random sampling was used to select 54 parents’ Representatives. In this case, the researcher created equal Kth sampling intervals to eliminate the feeling of bias amongst the respondents. This sampling procedure enabled the researcher to realize a sample of 27 head teachers, 27 pre-primary teachers and 54 Parents’ Representatives as well as 1 EARC Officer. Questionnaires were used to collect data from Head teachers, Pre-primary teachers and interview schedules were used to collect data from the EARC Officer and Parents’ Representatives. Piloting of research instruments was conducted amongst 9 pre-primary teachers to establish validity, reliability, credibility. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically along the research objectives and the quantitative data was analyzed descriptively using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The quantitative findings of the study were presented using tables, pie charts and graphs whereas qualitative findings were presented thematically and in narrative forms.
