Inclusion through sensory integration Erasmus Project

Project Title

Inclusion through sensory integration

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Early childhood education and care; Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills

Project Summary

The objective of the project is to support inclusion though sensory integration of all children through: educational sessions including literacy, outdoor education and considering the capacity of creativity and a well organised learning environment.

Schools today are supposed to be including and open for everyone. As such there are a variety of children coming from different backgrounds and with different needs and experiences including children in need of special support (f. ex. children with disabilities, children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds or children from a migrant background). A lifelong learning takes place starting with the foetus in the womb through our senses. We learn and create an understanding of the world through touch, smell, sight, taste and hearing. It is also important that our sensory systems connected to vestibular senses, expropriation and interception are developed. The aim of this project would not be developing specialised therapy for children diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). The aim would be to develop an understanding among teachers and working methods on how to explore and develop the different senses to benefit all children. Keeping in mind that working with senses is so important for the whole development of the child, in a physical, psychological and educational context, present preschool teachers with an unique task of organising the education and the environment so that the child might experience various senses throughout the day. In play, whether the child works individually or in a group of children, during indoor or outdoor activities – every situation has the potential of important learning opportunities. The child becomes more integrated within the world of senses and more prepared for further cognitive processes here in our preschools, in future education and in life.

There are five preschools participating in this project. They are Gefnarborg in Iceland, Grădinita cu program prelungit nr.1 in Romania, Dječji vrtić Vrbovechis in Croatia, Katarina Barnstugeförening in Sweden and Nipiagogeio Karterou in Greece.

This project is an action research where the participating preschools use pedagogical documentations as a tool of assessment, discussion, exchange of ideas and educational development evolving inclusion through sensory integration within their preschools.
The project would last for two years, dividing the two years into three time periods focusing on different perspectives:
1. time period, lasting from the 1st of September 2020 – 28th of February 2021: Sensory integration through educational sessions including literacy.
2. time period, lasting from the 1st of Mars 2021 – 31st of October 2021: Sensory integration through outdoor education.
3. time period, lasting from the 1st of November 2022 – 31st of August 2022. Sensory integration through creativity and a well organised environment.

Each time period would include:
– 1 or 2 learning, teaching, training activities in each participating country offering activities connected to the focus area of the time period. The activities last for 5 days and include job shadowing the daily work in the preschools, presentations, workshops, study visits, courses or cultural explorations. The purpose of the activities are to share ideas and working practices as well as having an opportunity to discuss questions and different aspects discovered through the project work within the schools.
– Learning communities, were parents are invited to participate on at least three occasions in “learning communities” depending on the topic of the time periods. The children will be divided into small groups solving different activities planned by the teachers while volunteers (parents) help out at the different stations.
– An ongoing eTwinning project concerning certain topics involving the children on a practical level into the project. Thus teachers are able to transform theory into practice as the activities in the eTwinning project will be based upon what they learned and experienced during the learning, teaching and training activities.

The project promote a professional learning community as teachers discuss and create an understanding on how to implement, develop and promote sensory integration with the children to support their physical, mental and social development. We expect that by the end of the project the participating schools will consist of cohesive, professional teams that feel motivated and have the tools to continue their professional development within their schools.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 124062 Eur

Project Coordinator

Leikskólinn Gefnarborg & Country: IS

Project Partners

• Nipiagogeio Karterou
• GRADINITA CU PROGRAM PRELUNGIT NR 1
• Dječji vrtić Vrbovec
• Katarina Barnstugeförening