Quality development through participation in the kindergarten (KUMBA)

The goal of the three year research project KUMBA is to develop a good quality system, or supporting material that the kindergarten can use for evaluation and quality development of their kindergarten.

The project includes internal evaluation of the kindergarten where all employees participate, and an external evaluation from a participating kindergarten. By performing systematic conversations with 4-6 year olds, their voice will also be heard.

The material will be based on the framework for the content and tasks of the kindergarten, and contributes to academic discussions about quality in the kindergarten from the perspective of all participating groups. The projects will be conducted in close cooperation with the field of practice, with kindergarten teachers as participating researchers.

KUMBA is financed by the Norwegian Research Committee and is led by associate professor Børge Moe at Queen Maud University College (DMMH). This is a collaboration between DMMH, the kindergarten chain Espira, Levanger Municipality, Nord University and the University of Galway, Ireland.

One research fellow is associated with the project:

Pia Paulsrud:
(NO) Kvalitet i barnehagen fra barnas perspektiv.
(NO) En studie av barnehagelæreres vurdering av barns trivsel i barnehagen.

KUMBA commenced in November 2021, and concludes in June 2025.

Project lead:

Børge Moe
Førsteamanuensis

More about the Ph.D-project

Quality in the kindergarten from the children's perspective.
A study of kindergarten teacher's own evaluation of children's welfare in the kindergarten

This ph.d.-project is part of the research project Quality development through participation in the kindergarten (KUMBA) which is financed by the Norwegian Research Council. The ph.d-project aims to develop new knowledge and insights into quality in the kindergarten. The quality of the kindergarten is essential for the children, but also society as a whole. Children's welfare is a foundational element in the kindergarten's overall quality.

Children's welfare in the kindergarten can be assessed from multiple perspectives: Parents, employees and children. The framework has many requirements to quality work in the kindergarten, and highlights children's experiences and opinions as central when kindergarten teachers assess children's welfare. Research shows that the term assessment can be demanding to understand for kindergarten teachers, and difficult to employ. Research also points to resistance to the term assessment to begin with.

Based on these points, it is relevant to explore how kindergarten teachers differ in how they understand and practice the assessment of children's welfare in the kindergarten.

The ph.d.-project is a qualitative study where focus groups, video clips and individual interviews are used to gain deeper insight into and knowledge of kindergarten teeacher's understanding and practice.

For more information about the project, contact Pia Paulsrud. E-mail: Pia.Paulsrud@dmmh.no