Inclusion – Diversty and Equity, for All children. Erasmus Project

Project Title

Inclusion – Diversty and Equity, for All children.

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 school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Disabilities – special needs; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education

Project Summary

Context/background of the project
The rational of this project is an inclusive school for all. With the idea of inclusion we mean accessibility and the right to be part of a social context. The aim of the project is a successful school to reduce exclusion in society in the future. Children in need of special support are at increased risk of early school leaving, and that in turn increases the risk of alienation in society. We want this project to counter such situations.

Objectives
All participating countries can see the same problem and want to increase opportunities for children to succeed in school. The need to strengthen organizations’ ability to work from a holistic perspective is essential in the future. At European level, society is incurring increasing costs, both social and financial in failing to prevent early school leaving or exclusion among the rising generation. This project, by supporting schools, head teachers and teachers to work with inclusion of all pupils, will reduce this financial burden for all partner countries.

Number and profile of participating organisations
The project partnership combines geographical and institutional diversity and has been carefully constructed. Each partner have brought significant experiences and competences to the project. All organisations have been working for inclusion for some years now and there has also been a great effort in working for prevention of students leaving schools too early but more has to be done in the way of bringing in new solutions that will contribute to better educational environment for the pupils and head teachers and teachers must develop their skills in making the future school that fits every ones needs. The project partnership consists of three countries participating organizations. The applicant organisation is Vara Municipality/Department of Education and Culture in Sweden whilst the other partners include a school and a university in Sweden, a School office, two schools and a youth art school in Germany and the Department of Education and Leisure, a school and a centre for young people on Iceland.

Description of undertaken main activities
All participants hade the task of reading literature in the area of inclusion and articles related.
Kick off meeting – Preparation and presentation.
Meeting 2: Understanding and knowledge bridging.
Meeting 3: Process analysis and design
Creation of a flowchart in form of an IT-tool that can help teachers in the school to structure the work in the meeting with Children with special needs. The name of the IT-Tool is Digi-Flow.
Additional Steering group meeting: Planning for the last finalizing project meeting and the Dissemination Conference (Multiplier Event).
Meeting 4: – Finalizing, reflection and summary
Dissemination Conference as a Multiplier Event.

Results and impact attained
All project participants have gained deeper insight in international literature and research papers in the field of inclusion. This have create a better understanding for how do create an inclusive school for all children.
All project participants have gained deeper understanding of the participating countries’ school systems and methods.
Intellectual output of the project is a flowchart in the form of a digital tool that can help teachers in the school to structure the work in the meeting with children with special needs. The name of this digital tool is Digi-Flow. The idea of Digi-Flow is that when a teacher meets a child who is in need of support, they start at the first step in the flowchart then depending on how the child respond to the framing of a question/ issues they will continue in the flow chart and will ultimately get a form of advice how they should proceed. Digi-Flow have been developed in four languages as a software that can be used on a computer or media pad.

Longer-term benefits
With the idea of inclusion in mind when developing schools we believe that the long term effects in the society will be positive with the new knowledge after the project. We are convinced that this inclusive approach will add sustainable value when spread widely in the countries in Europe.
It is possible for any interested organisation to use Digi-Flow or/and translate it into any other language. The project website will continue until at least September 2019. The digital tool, Digi-Flow will be available free of charge to download from this website.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 145639 Eur

Project Coordinator

Vara kommun & Country: SE

Project Partners

• Kunsthaus alte mühle
• Brekkubæjarskóli
• Berufskolleg für Wirtschaft und Verwaltung Brilon des Hochsauerlandkreises
• HOGSKOLAN VAST
• Gymnasium Laurentianum
• Hochsauerlandkreis
• Akraneskaupstaður