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Special needs educators (SNEs) who work with children in need of special support (CINSS) have an important function in preschool, i.e. supporting CINSS and supporting the development of inclusive learning environments. Furthermore, they are professionals whose working conditions are demanding. That said, there is little research on their well-being. The present cross-sectional study aims to investigate associations between a work-related sense of coherence (Work-SoC), resources and demands, and contextual factors in relation to SNEs' work with CINSS. Randomly selected SNEs (N = 42) from Swedish preschools completed a web survey. Spearman's rho correlation analyses showed that Work-SoC (i.e. comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness at work) was positively related to job resources and negatively to demands yet unrelated to contextual factors. In contrast, contextual factors were related to job resources. Additionally, self-perceived control was statistically speaking significantly related to many variables (e.g. job demands, Work-SoC, collaboration with preschools, continuous evaluation of support measures, and access to co-workers from other professions). The study underscores the importance of supportive work environments; systematic quality practices within the organisation, and collaboration for SNEs in their work with CINSS and in the development of inclusive learning environments.

Inclusion of children needing special support presents challenges for preschool educators. Understanding factors that enhance their well-being can improve their ability to meet all children’s needs. This cross-sectional study investigated 90 preschool educators perceived job demands and resources related to working with children in need of special support, and work-related sense of coherence (comprehensibility, manageability, meaningfulness). Analyses of group differences between preschool teachers and child carers revealed no significant differences in the experience of job demands and resources but preschool teachers reported a higher degree of meaningfulness at work compared to child carers. Correlation analyses showed that job resources were all intercorrelated and either inversely correlated or uncorrelated with job demands. Job demands were also inversely correlated to sense of coherence. Linear regression results indicated that a higher work-related sense of coherence and self-perceived control predicted lower self-perceived job demands, even after controlling for social support, growth/development, child group size and insufficient reflection time. This studyunderscores the need to integrate a sense of comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness at work to improve well-being and to cope with the emotional, cognitive, and organisational demands of working with children needing special support.