SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS
Practices and policies in the European context
Description and main aims
Draft proposed program
In the past, the words "special needs" students were associated just with disabled students also called "special students". In some European countries, there are still existing "special schools". In the actual wider panorama of the inclusive European school system, the term "special needs" assumed a very complex meaning and schools adapted to the reality of classes where teachers have to face the presence of students with a very diversified classification of "needs". Not just a physical or a mental disability.
With the outbreak of the pandemic the topic of special needs is becoming even more urgent. Not just students but also teachers are living a new exceptional situation, lasting a long time which is causing psychological “problems” connected with the consequences of isolation, frustration, fear, over stress, economical crisis and uncertainty.
Teachers are asked to deal with it, respect the rules and standards of today school systems which are also very diverse in same Europe. The paradox is that - while each National school system is still "not so European", in parallel in each Country problems are the same and teachers are learning - sometimes alone and in autonomy - how to create a "special needs education" - high quality and inclusive - without losing the focus on the program, on their personal and professional upgrade and on those students who are the opposite (called "gifted" students). For these new target groups, it started to grow also the so-called "personalised education" where teachers have to plan diversified pathways of teaching&learning for students who are faster and it seems that they don't need neither a school program to follow because they are incredibly autonomous.
This course starts from common knowledge of European guidelines and common guidelines for teachers under the main sphere of "inclusion and special needs". A first theoretical framework of definitions and policies crossing Countries but also a comparison among countries.
Then the course becomes more practical and examines practices, concrete laws and solutions at different levels. Thanks to permanent research conducted by JUMP on this topic and deepening the confrontation among teachers, participants will understand a common theoretical base, will share the same difficulties at the local level and will find main guidelines in EU policies and legislative guidelines.
One day of the day is spent in a local school meeting teachers and students facing this topic and understanding how the Italian national system and its policies work. Finally, teachers work on a project idea to overcome barriers and plan future cooperation.
Objectives/learning outcomes:
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clarify what is "special needs education today"
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Give a European perspective and dimension to a common frame
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Share among teachers the topic of special needs students
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Understand new terms and definitions
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Get to know EU guidelines and policies
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Understand the Italian national system of inclusion and special needs education policies
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Make friends and develop cooperation among teachers
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Work in close contact with teachers, experts and also with students of the local reality of the Soverato and Calabria region.
PLAN YOUR SESSION
JUMP organises a training every month of the year excluded in the Christmas period.
If you're a writing a KA1 project, please, plan the most suitable period for you and your team starting from the 1 of July every year and then, when you will know if your project is approved, we will write each other and we will confirm dates and sessions planning together. If you prefer to write and you need a formal confirmation, please write to associazionejump@gmail.com
Target group
Teachers can be any kind of teacher working in public or private school or educational institutions
Like all our programs, the present one is flexible and adaptable to special requests, depending on the subject taught or on the starting level of the participant.
Furthermore, in line with the JUMP Academy method, our courses are based on a strategic balance between formal and non-formal education, indoor and outdoor education and the team takes care of a very important aspect of international mobility which is the intercultural learning which we develop with short excursions and facilitating the interaction with local partners, especially schools of the territory.
We always try to connect our learners to local teachers and students to cooperate in developing innovation and networking for future projects. If possible, inside the program, a morning is spent inside a local school, visiting, observing and cooperating in the realization of one or more lessons. The proposed program JUMP works, in European dimension and with an international spirit, at the local level and, according to the period of the training along the year and the weather, it is possible to change some sessions and add visits and meetings, in cooperation with our network of partners including schools involved in European projects).
Training modules
1) Module 1: EU policies and trends in education
2) Module 2: The terms connected with “Special needs students” and special needs education. Frameworks and comparison among countries in the EU
3) Module 3: Education/teaching and development of environments attentive to special needs students
4) Module 4: Focus on Social competence and Emotional Intelligence. The use of mentoring in special needs education.
5) Module 5: Developing learners skills to express feelings and emotions. Practices to create inclusion, solidarity, cooperation at school to assure quality learning to special needs students.
6) Module 6: Design my own learning and teaching pathway
Program
Sunday: arrival of participants, welcoming by the B&B , free time and relax
Monday, 9:30 Opening the program with a briefing from the organisers. Presentation of the team, ice-breaking games outdoors and walk to the city centre. Short sightseeing in Soverato, some basic info for orienteering, history and info points.
Lunch break.
Afternoon session. 15:00 - 17:30. Module 1: EU policies and trends in education
Tuesday morning. 9:30 - 12:30. Module 2: The terms connected with “Special needs students” and special needs education. Frameworks and comparison among countries in the EU
Afternoon session: 15:00 - 17:00. Continuation of module 2.
Wednesday: Morning session. 9:30 - 12:30. Module 3: Education/teaching and development of environments attentive to special needs students
Lunch break. Afternoon session: 15:00 - 17:00. Module 4: Focus on Social competence and Emotional Intelligence. The use of mentoring in special needs education.
Thursday: Morning session, 9:30 - 12:30. Module 5: Developing learners skills to express feelings and emotions. Practices to create inclusion, solidarity, cooperation at school to assure quality learning to special needs students.
Lunch break. Afternoon session: outdoor emotional team-building walk to Soverato Superiore.
Friday: Morning session, 9:30 - 12:30. Module 6: Design my own learning and teaching pathway
Saturday afternoon, free time. Final dinner among participants to say Goodbye to Soverato.
Sunday: departure of participants.
Certification and number of days
JUMP certifies or 36 hours for 6 days course (6*6) or more if needed adding extra hours per day. Or 30 hours for a 5 days course (6*5).
The course can be also extended to a 2 weeks course with the options 10 days or 12 days course if asked and agreed, depending on the project of the sending organization.
10 days are excluded the weekend (5+5), 12 days are from Monday to Saturday morning (6+6).
At the end of the training, JUMP delivers a formal certificate of attendance and the team is at disposal to fill the Europass certification document according to the EU model template and other needed documents for reporting of the sending institution.
Costs: the cost is fully covered by the Erasmus grant.
Write to associazionejump@gmail.com to ask for information on costs and the services provided to plan your mobility project in Soverato with JUMP.