In the field of education of pupils with special needs, the cooperation of special education teachers with primary education teachers is already established practice, and professional efforts go towards systematically encouraging and developing teamwork in this field. Teamwork in education has many benefits for pupils with special needs, for professional workers themselves, as well as for educational institutions. Theoretical knowledge and research represent teamwork as one of the factors that significantly promotes the professional development of professional workers, including special education teachers. In the theoretical basis of the master's thesis we present some stages and models as well as guidelines for promoting and developing the professional development of professional workers. We also define the factors of professional development and highlight teamwork with its basic characteristics as one of the important factors. We emphasized the forms of teamwork of special education teachers with primary education teachers and their contribution to the professional development of professional workers. In the empirical part, the self-perception questionnaire explored how the teamwork of special education teachers with primary education teachers contributes to their own professional development. The sample included 140 special education teachers from all over Slovenia who are employed as providers of additional professional assistance. The aim of the research was to determine whether and to what extent special education teachers experience teamwork with primary education teachers as a factor in their own professional development. The results of the empirical research show that most special education teachers have a positive experience of teamwork with teachers. Most of them also feel competent enough for teamwork. These competences were mainly acquired through their own concrete experience in teamwork and through the exchange of experience with colleagues. At the discretion of special education teachers, their professional development is influenced by processes and relationships in teamwork, such as trust among team members, open and honest communication in the team, positive attitude of team members and feelings of acceptance in the team. According to the special education teachers surveyed, the processes and factors that are present in team work have the greatest influence on gaining experience with teamwork and this kind of knowledge, and contribute to the efficiency and improvement of pedagogical work. The results of the research aim to stimulate motivation of special education teachers for teamwork with primary education teachers and their care for their own professional development.
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