Motýlek School and Educational Facility Complex Exchange of Good Practices Erasmus Project

Project Title

Motýlek School and Educational Facility Complex Exchange of Good Practices

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: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Disabilities – special needs; Early childhood education and care

Project Summary

The project is conceived following successful visits from the partner school ,to educational settings in Poland on the first occasion and then a longer visit to the applicant school over a period of 5 days. Both schools recognize the need for continual development in the areas of both visual and sensory learning for children with unique learning abilities and are keen to share and further develop innovative teaching practices.
The applicant and partner schools are both schools for children with special needs. The applicant school caters for pupils aged 3-19 with autism and the partner school is for pupils aged 2-11 and it is a special school. The majority of the children at ZPE School (Poland) have profound and multiple learning difficulties. A significant number of their children have additional autism, sensory and physical impairments.

Objectives and needs to be addressed:
– to improve teaching and learning within both schools,
– to provide opportunities for interaction,
– to develop the use of technology to create baseline assessment, evaluation and evidence for the purpose of enhanced teaching and learning,
– to further develop the expressive arts curriculum within both schools,
– to develop peer learning and support for teachers, particularly through lesson observations and feedback,
– to develop proactive learning and engagement for pupils,
– to identify ways of developing life skills / work related learning for our pupils.

The following focus areas and activities have been identified in order to achieve the above outcomes:
– exercises to identify cultural differences and similarities between schools
– explore teaching & learning styles in our schools with a view to identifying learning opportunities
– focussed learning encounters through co-taught lessons between Czech/Poland staff
– the use of technology to record, analyze and support pupil learning and self evaluation
– the use of technology to assist teaching staff in analyzing lesson effectiveness and as a means for self reflection, peer feedback and critique
– attendance at the applicant school annual Arts festival (performing arts, drama, art and music) and the partner school Motylek Art show
– expressive arts will support and encourage expressive communication and interaction
– video evidence of pupil baseline and progress
– environment, animal therapy, aquatherapy, art therapy, Snoezelen – opportunities for life skills/work related learning

Although not all pupils and staff are able to travel to their partnered school, there will benefits to all from inclusion in events running in their schools during staff and pupil visits, including co-taught lessons.

The schedule of visits between schools will involve members of the senior managements teams, up to 24 teachers from each school as well as 12 pupils and accompanying staff.

Results and impacts envisaged:
– enhanced expressive arts curriculum,
– enhanced VOKS/PECS programme across both schools,
– more motivated and engaged pupils through the development of reflective learning,
– increased pupil ability to develop and express opinions,
– increased knowledge and understanding of another culture,
– increased pupil ability to be proactive in their learning,
– established use of video for evidence of pupil progress and teacher self evaluation/peer evaluation, Bobath Concept
– the use of physiological processes in positioning educational process as prevention of body deformities, muscle contractures
– Therapeutic feeding, drinking from the special cup for childrens with Cerebral Palsy of orofacial regulation therapy as support speech therapy
– facilitating optimal movement patterns of muscular tension
– sensory Integration
– self-care
– self-sufficiency
– work physiotherapist
– Snoezelen
– the use of special education tools for better quality of life

Potential long term benefits:
– networking with schools across Europe
– curriculum enhancements
– improved teaching and learning
– exploring the possibility of opening the applicant school Expressive Arts Festival to a wider audience

Recorded learning, baseline assessment of the number of pupil engagements at the start, middle and end of the programme. Pupils active participation and levels of unprompted engagement. Targets would be set for every pupil at the completion of baseline assessments.

Pupils in both special schools will develop their opinions, knowledge and understanding of another culture. For our Czech school, they will have a better understanding of a multicultural school in Poland while like learners will understand the features of a monoculture in the heart of Europe when students speak another language but English is seen as a world language. Many of the Poland teachers can speak english.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 40680 Eur

Project Coordinator

ZS a MS Motylek, Koprivnice, Smetanova 1122, p.o. & Country: CZ

Project Partners

• ZESPOL PLACOWEK EDUKACYJNYCH