Work Environment and Quality in Norwegian Early Childhood Education and Care

In this chapter, we delve into the interplay between work environment and quality in Norwegian Early Childhood Education and Care Services (ECEC). We apply a framework from the Human Factors-Ergonomics tradition, integrating quality and workers’ ill-health, and ask: what is the interplay between work environment and quality in Norwegian ECEC centres? We conducted a qualitative interview study with head teachers and staff members across different professional groups in ten centres. The results show integration of work environment and quality through establishing staff relationships, which facilitates good collaboration and workflow between staff and thereby ensures good flow in children's activities and play. Negative attention is directed towards staffing, where a low staff-child ratio in interplay with external expectations and requirements is perceived as high demands influencing quality and staff well-being. The chapter argues that prioritising becomes important. Head teachers have a crucial role and could benefit from involving staff, as well as being given support by owners regarding prioritisation in accordance with the resources and the specific organisational situation.