The child is a researcher and a practitioner Erasmus Project

Project Title

The child is a researcher and a practitioner

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: Natural sciences; Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; Early childhood education and care

Project Summary

The project addresses the specific objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, especially the early childhood education and such important competence for Lifelong Learning (2018) as science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STE(A)M). At present children at pre-school level do not receive enough education in STE(A)M subjects due to lack of age-appropriate and at the same time binding and diverse methods. They need more support in maintaining different levels of preparedness and understanding the STE(A)M subjects. We are convinced that bringing together partners from all over Europe with a variety of performance indicators and different international cooperation experiences will bring the best results.

The general aim of the Project is to foster excellence and innovation in pre-school education by increasing teachers and education staff capacity at transnational level:
1) to strengthen cooperation between early childhood education and care institutions in European countries for teaching and learning such important competence as science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STE(A)M).
2) to foster exchange of experience between educational staff to equip teacher with tools, ideas and best practices on how to use outdoor space for learning purposes.
3) to strengthen collaboration with parents to raise children’s readiness for school and future life.

The main target group of the Project is:
Teachers and other educational staff (administration, assistants, special pedagogues) of the partner organizations. Pre-school teachers, assistants, teachers of different subjects – music, sports, language will provide in competencies-based approach. Totally 120 pre-schools teachers’ will participate in 6 LTT activities in each partner country.

The project will be organized in three main activities:
The first activity – “Project management” is created to ensure smooth and transparent project implementation according to the application and approved budget.
The second – “Building teaching capacity” will consists of LTT activities and local events and will be aimed at strengthening cooperation, exchanging experiences and elaborating new teaching methods and approaches in STE(A)M teaching in pre-schools using outdoor space.
The third – “Information and dissemination of project results” will be aimed to inform about project and disseminate the project results.

Expected Project results:
1) developed, transferred and implemented innovative practices on STE(A)M teaching methods using outdoor space;
2) increased capacity and professionalism of the ECEC institutions to work at EU level, reinforced cooperation with partners from different countries.
3) fostered parents’ involvement at education process;
4) 6 Learning/Teaching/ Training Activities have taken place in 6 countries with 120 visiting teachers involved;
5) 6 dissemination events organized.
6) the educational material – summarized experience and new methods created in English and available for wider public.
5) Project report prepared.
6) it is expected that in total 109 local teachers from the partner organizations will benefit from the project activities (from Latvia – 30, Belgium – 18, Bulgaria – 12, Spain – 14, Greece – 8, Estonia – 27 teachers);
7) it is expected that in total 1075 children and the same amount of their parents attending partner pre-schools will benefit from the project results (from Latvia – 222, Belgium – 220, Bulgaria – 141, Spain – 200, Greece – 87, Estonia – 205 children);
8) in total 105 pre-school educational institutions and teacher training institutions in partner countries (in Latvia – 35, in Belgium – 18, Bulgaria – 12, Spain – 14, Greece – 6, Estonia – 20) will be informed about project implementation and results.

The accumulated experience will help to build a wider network that will continue cooperation also after the project. In case of successful project implementation, the partners are likely to generate a follow-up project application to continue the working towards the outlined objectives.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 148880 Eur

Project Coordinator

Rigas 224. pirmsskolas izglitibas iestade & Country: LV

Project Partners

• Tallinna Lasteaed Vesiroos
• kindergarten 8 “Bodra smyana”
• Vrije gesubsidieerde kleuterschool de kleuterark
• 4th Kindergarden of Agios Nikolaos (4ο Νηπιαγωγείο Αγίου Νικολάου)
• EI SOL DE PORTOCARRERO