VET for EI – Vocational Training for Physiotherapists about Family Centered and Play Based Approaches in Early Childhood Intervention (ECVET Based) Erasmus Project

Project Title

VET for EI – Vocational Training for Physiotherapists about Family Centered and Play Based Approaches in Early Childhood Intervention (ECVET Based)

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 vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Disabilities – special needs; Health and wellbeing; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The main objective of the project was to create a vocational training curriculum based around the ECVET framework that would provide a clear standard for the professional and vocational learning development of Physiotherapists, that are primary working around play and family based approach in Early Intervention.

As part of our project work, we also prepared an online learning platform where the outputs of the projects (the country status reports could be used to examine the Early Intervention systems in the project partner countries. The project partnership also produced a comparison report to compare these systems, and all the training materials produced within the scope of the project). These materials were uploaded to our project web site (www.vetforei.eu). Thereby enabling users to access the learning materials that would improve their understanding of the sector, the issues that partners sought to address and the skills that workers needed to develop within their profession.

The project also provided Physiotherapists a valuable opportunity to acquire direct learning through structured short-term joint staff trainings in England, Portugal and Turkey. These trainings were over 4 full days (6 days with travel days). In these trainings, each partner organization sent 2 staff members (who were physiotherapist in accordance with the target group). These training opportunities were a great opportunity for Physiotherapists to reflection on their vocational practice, test new ways of working, share ideas and develop collaborative working approaches. These LTTA were a great opportunity and added to the importance of sharing learning and at the same time develop skills relevant to the learner and their environment.

We also held a total of 6 coordination meetings in Istanbul, Portugal, England, Portugal, Ankara and Istanbul respectively. These coordination meetings were used to carry out studies on the administrative and administrative processes of the project. As well as ensure that the materials that we were developing were in line with our project objectives. It was an opportunity to reflect and monitor progress as well as look at the ways in which we could sustain the learning from across the partnership. For Instance, APCB in Portugal is developing additional EU projects that would address their learning needs. The partner who was new to Erasmus+ is eager to promote a shared vision of learning together.

After we had completed the project activities, we then sought to develop a piloting training event with over 25 physiotherapists in Istanbul. This was where participants were invited through an open call. The purpose of this training was to contribute to the dissemination of the training curriculum and the content of the project as well as testing the developed vocational education program. It enabled us to share our learning and look at ways we could embed our project learning to others Physiotherapists and Organization improving the impact and the visibility of the project. This has added to our projects sustainability by ensuring our messages are carried forward. It is helping the way in which Physiotherapists are trained and supported, ultimately improving the vocational learning across the sector.

As part of the project outcomes an international symposium on the Early Intervention Systems was held in Istanbul. This symposium Included inputs from various authorities from educational, family and disability bodies from across Turkey and Europe. It was a great event that showcased the project to an active audience eager to implement the projects outcomes across their organizations. It was also included Physiotherapists who were eager to improve their skills and advance within their working environment.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 242475 Eur

Project Coordinator

Spastic Children’s Foundation of Turkey (Turkiye Spastik Cocuklar Vakfi) & Country: TR

Project Partners

• Eurlyaid asbl
• GAZI UNIVERSITESI
• ENGELLI YASLI HIZMETLERI GENEL MUDURLUGU
• PRAXIS EUROPE CIC
• UNIVERSIDADE DO MINHO
• Associação de Paralisia Cerebral de Braga