Every child is special Erasmus Project

Project Title

Every child is special

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 : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills

Project Summary

In project “Every child is special” were involved 9 partners from different European countries. The number and profile of partners was carefully chosen because of the projects outcome. Through this project we developed a Persona Dolls methodology network in Europe. Through this network teachers from different part of Europe will have a opportunity to participate in Persona Dolls methodology training and receive training materials (teachers handbook and DVD) in their native language. In most partner countries the Persona Dolls training sessions started already during the project implementation. The project budget was used to develop methodology in cooperation with partners and create training materials. These activities have a long term impact in partner countries and in Europe. Because this well functioning methodology is now available and active for many years after the project ends. Teachers now have the skills, experience and competence to use Persona Dolls methodology with children for indefinite time. Until now there was persona Dolls methodology training centre only in UK, London and all the materials were in english language and based on the experience of teachers in England. Now when the project is finished the methodology training sessions and materials in native language are available in 9 other European countries with very different background: Estonia, Bulgaria, Poland, Czech, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Greece.

The aim of the project was:
-Prevent bullying and school violence in school;
-To develop and improve children social skills;
-To increase tolerance. Children are aware of differences and find them as values;
-Include children with special needs;
-Develop Persona Dolls methodology;
-Create in cooperation with partners teacher training materials to disseminate project outcomes and methodology.

The main goal of this project was to prevent school bullying with the children age 3-7 years. Persona Dolls methodology is universal and suitable for every culture and language environment. The activities could be fitted with every group ‘s problems and needs. The activities are playful and children embrace the methodology easily. The objectives of the project have been achieved through planned project activities. Children are now more aware about differences, they are more tolerant and their social and problem solving skills have improved significantly.
During the project we started to use “Persona Dolls” methodology in every partner school. As the result of this methodology activities children now are more aware of people differences, they solve themselves the problems that take place every day in kindergarten – they analyze the situations and point out how to solve the problems, children analyzing skills have improved, they know how to make difference between good and bad behaviour, they have more courage to stand out for others and also for themselves. This all will have positive impact when children go to school. Children care about others and know how to stand out for themselves. Children social skills have improved and therefore they manage better in school – they have skills how to create social relations and find new friends, how to solve problems and they also have positive environment to have higher learning success.

The activities held through the project:
-Presentations about every countries education system, teaching and how is supported teaching values, preventing bullying, developing social skills aso.
-Persona Dolls methodology training
-Activities with Persona Dolls methodology
-Introducing every partners country, culture and traditions
-Questionnaires for children and staff to evaluate project impact
-Different activities to teach children about people differences and tolerance: drama plays, books, theme walls, Differences weeks.
-Skype connections between children.
-I am special activity with children.

The outcome of the project is:
-Persona Dolls methodology and activities with children, the experience, skills and knowledge.
-Training materials for Persona Dolls methodology dissemination: teacher handbook, DVD, dolls
-Persona Dolls network and webpage for training centre in every partner country;
-Differences books, walls and other supporting activities;

All project activities have been done as planned and they all have had positive impact, therefore all planned objectives have been achieved and all planned results have been accomplished. All partners have conducted equally to project success and have done a great job. All activities have been done in every institution and all materials have been created with good quality. Many of the partners started Persona Dolls training programme in their country before the project ended because of the positive effect of the methodology and the good impact of dissemination the project. All created training materials will be spread during training sessions for teachers in every country.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 208110 Eur

Project Coordinator

Tallinna Suitsupääsupesa Lasteaed & Country: EE

Project Partners

• CEIP GINES MORATA
• Detska gradina “Zvanche”
• CELFF Centro de Estudos Línguas Formação Fogueteiro SA – Colégio Guadalupe
• Talatpasa Ortaokulu
• Przedszkole 237 im. Warszawskiej Syrenki
• Istituto Comprensivo Battipaglia Salvemini
• SCHOOL OF PALEKASTRO