SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS / SEN EDUCATION Practices and policies in the European context for inclusion
ERASMUS K1 PROJECT
about the course
course description
In the past, the words “special needs” students were associated just with disabled students also called “special students”. In some European countries, “special schools” still exist. In the broader view of an inclusive European school system, the term “special needs” assumed a very complex meaning and schools adapted to the reality of classes where teachers have to face the presence of students with a very diversified classification of “needs”. Not just a physical or a mental disability.
With the outbreak of the pandemic the topic of special needs is becoming even more urgent. Not just students but also teachers are living in a new exceptional situation, lasting a long time which is causing psychological “problems” connected with the consequences of isolation, frustration, fear, over stress, economical crisis and uncertainty.
Teachers are asked to deal with it, respect the rules and standards of today’s school systems which are also very diverse Within the European context. The paradox is that – while each National school system is still “not so European”, in parallel in each Country problems are the same and teachers are learning – sometimes alone and in autonomy – how to create a “special needs education” – high quality and inclusive – without losing the focus on the program, on their personal and professional upgrade and on those students who are on the opposite spectrum (called “gifted” students). For these new target groups, the so-called “personalised education,” started to develop, where teachers have to plan diversified pathways of teaching&learning for students who are faster and appear not even needing a school program to follow because they are incredibly autonomous.
This course starts from common knowledge of European guidelines and common guidelines for teachers under the main sphere of “inclusion and special needs”. A first theoretical framework of definitions and policies crossing Countries but also a comparison among countries.
Then the course becomes more functional and examines practices, laws and solutions at different levels. Thanks to permanent research conducted by JUMP on this topic and deepening the confrontation among teachers, participants will understand a common theoretical base, will share the same difficulties at the local level and will find main guidelines in EU policies and legislative guidelines.
One day of the week is spent in a local school, meeting teachers and students facing this topic and understanding how the Italian national system and its policies work. Finally, teachers work on a project idea to overcome barriers and plan future cooperation.
LEARNING GOALS:
- Clarify what is “special needs education today”
- Give a European perspective and dimension to a common frame
- Share among teachers the topic of special needs students
- Understand new terms and definitions
- Get to know EU guidelines and policies
- Understand the Italian national system of inclusion and special needs education policies
- Make friends and develop cooperation among teachers
- Work in close contact with teachers, experts and also with students of the local reality of the Soverato and Calabria region.
Target Group
Participants can be any teacher at any level of education working in a public or private school or educational institutions
program/Training Modules
INTRO/METHOD
Like all our programs, the present one is flexible and adaptable to special requests, depending on the subject taught or on the starting level of the participant.
Furthermore, in line with the JUMP Academy method, our courses are based on a strategic balance between formal and non-formal education, indoor and outdoor education and the team takes care of a very important aspect of international mobility which is the intercultural learning which we develop with short excursions and facilitating the interaction with local partners, businesses and citizens of our territory. Each local context has its own economy so it’s always useful, in training programs, to get in contact with concrete examples (experiential learning and real based learning).
We always try to connect our learners to local teachers and students to cooperate in developing innovation and networking for future projects. If possible, inside the program, a morning is spent inside a local school, visiting, observing, and cooperating in the realization of one or more lessons. The proposed program JUMP works, in European dimension and with an international spirit, at the local level and, according to the period of the training along the year and the weather, it is possible to change some sessions and add visits and meetings, in cooperation with our network of partners including schools involved in European projects).
WEEK DAILY SCHEDULE
Saturday or Sunday:
Arrival of participants, transfer and welcome. Lodging and logistic support. Depending on the arrival time the participants are helped to have a meal or fulfill any other need.
Monday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Meeting in the lobby of Villa Gabriella International, welcome, first briefing by the organizers, presentation of the team, logistics information, gadgets distribution and start of the program. Walking down to the city center. Outdoor team building activity “The Mission Impossible game in Soverato”. Getting to know the important places of the city, the orientation points, traditions and cultural elements, interacting with local citizens.
12:30 end of the morning activity with a debriefing and logistic info
Free time for lunch or to enjoy the beach
Organized lift from the city center to the Villa.
Monday afternoon session: 15:00 – 17:00
“Experience Calabria. A place to live, a place to love”. Presentation of JUMP and of the most important cultural elements of the region. Participants are asked to present themselves quickly and introduce their school in a creative or digital way using the internet and our screen.
Dinner organized for all the groups in a local restaurant.
Tuesday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Meeting on the terrace of Villa Gabriella.
First outdoor ice breaking game to get to know each other and create a good working climate.
Division in small groups and start of the indoors or outdoor sessions with the JUMP trainer.
Introduction to Module 1, EU policies and trends in education referring to inclusion and the framework of special needs
13:00 – 15:00 lunch break and free time
Tuesday afternoon session: 15:00 – 17:30
1st excursion to develop cultural knowledge, strengthen team building and socialization among participants.
“Walking tour to the old village of Soverato Superiore, visit to the Church of “La Pietà” of Gagini and exploring the narrow streets. Interacting with local people.
Free evening to enjoy the city center
Wednesday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Module 2, The terms connected with “Special needs students” and special needs education. Frameworks and comparison among countries in the EU
Module 3, Education/teaching and development of environments attentive to special needs students
13:00 – 15:00 lunch break and free time
Wednesday afternoon session: 15:00 – 17:00
Module 4, Focus on Social competence and Emotional Intelligence. The use of mentoring in special needs education
Free evening to enjoy the city center or rest
Thursday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Module 5, Developing learners skills to express feelings and emotions. Practices to create inclusion, solidarity, cooperation at school to assure quality learning to special needs students
13:00 – 15:00 lunch break and free time
Thursday afternoon is (usually) free time.
The staff will provide some suggestions for possible activities or excursions. For example to Catanzaro city, Capital of the region
Friday morning session: 09:30 – 11:00 (shorter morning lesson).
Module 6, Design my own learning and teaching pathway for the inclusion of Special Needs. More and more structured SEN in my school
11:00 free time to visit the local market which is nice and folkloristic.
On Friday – at an agreed time – usually in the afternoon – it’s organized as an excursion in a beautiful and unique old village with a final dinner. The staff enjoys it and there’s a professional guide with us.
Depending on the season the excursion starts in the morning or in the afternoon. From July to September it’s usually in the afternoon-evening for the high heat.
Saturday morning session: 09:30 – 12:00
Closing the course: Evaluation and delivery of formal certificates/Europass and admin documents.
Saturday afternoon:
Free time and last moments all the participants together for socialization.
Sunday:
Departure of participants.
The indicated times may suffer some changes depending on the season (earlier in the winter time and later in the summertime).
TRAINING MODULES:
Module 1: EU policies and trends in education referring to inclusion and the framework of special needs
Module 2: The terms connected with “Special needs students” and special needs education. Frameworks and comparison among countries in the EU
Module 3: Education/teaching and development of environments attentive to special needs students
Module 4: Focus on Social competence and Emotional Intelligence. The use of mentoring in special needs education
Module 5: Developing learners skills to express feelings and emotions. Practices to create inclusion, solidarity, cooperation at school to assure quality learning to special needs students
Module 6: Design my own learning and teaching pathway for the inclusion of Special Needs. More and more structured SEN in my school
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the training week teachers will have:
- Clarified what is “special needs education today” distinguishing among different terms and definitions
- Understood the European perspective and dimension to a common frame
- Shared among teachers the topic of special needs students
- Got to know EU guidelines and policies
- Understood the Italian national system of inclusion and special needs education policies
- Made friends and develop cooperation among teachers
- Worked in close contact with teachers, experts and also with students of the local reality of the Soverato and Calabria region
certification details
JUMP certifies or 36 hours for 6 days course (6*6) or more if extra hours are needed per day. Or 30 hours for a 5 days course (6*5).
The course can be also extended to a 2 weeks course with the options 10 days or 12 days course if asked and agreed, depending on the project of the sending organization.
10 days are excluded the weekend (5+5), 12 days are from Monday to Saturday morning (6+6).
At the end of the training, JUMP delivers a formal certificate of attendance and the team is at disposal to fill the Europass certification document according to the EU model template and other needed documents for reporting of the sending institution.
Certification details
Our courses are in line with the Erasmus+ Quality standards for courses under Key Action 1 (learning mobility of individuals)
Costs
The cost is fully covered by the Erasmus grant. Write to associazionejump@gmail.com to ask for information on costs and the services provided to plan your mobility project in Soverato with JUMP.
How to apply
For info and registration about the course fill the form below or contact us to our mail.