Covid-19
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the visits between partner schools have been put on hold. An extension of one year (to August 2022) has been approved for the project and the planned school visits will now take place one year later than originally planned. In the meantime, the schools will remain in contact and will communicate and collaborate, for example, through eTwinning.
“Understanding the Need for Inclusive Teaching in Education”
“UNITE” (Understanding the Need for Inclusive Teaching in Education) is the title of a European project under the Erasmus+ programme which Holy Family Senior School is participating in with 5 other partner schools in Europe. This involves teachers from each school visiting each other to share good practice in the area of inclusive education. The project began in September 2019 and runs for two years. The other schools involved are:
- Krootuse Pohikool, Estonia
- Kilimli Ismet Inonu Ilkokulu, Turkey
- Sukromna Zakladna Skola, Slovakia
- Boleangsskolan, Sweden
- CEIP Ausias March, Spain
The project is co-funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ programme and is administered in Ireland by Léargas.
Visit to Holy Family- November 2019
Holy Family Senior School hosted 16 teachers from the partner schools in November 2019. They observed inclusive practices in special education through classroom visits, the observing of lessons and meeting staff and students. This was a whole school event and the visitors enjoyed their week in Ireland. They were very grateful to the school for the warm welcome they received.
SWEDEN- FEBRUARY 2020
In February 2020, in the next stage of the “UNITE” Erasmus+ project, our partner school in Sweden hosted a week’s training activity on the theme of cooperative learning. The school- Boleangsskolan, situated in Umea in northern Sweden- welcomed teachers from all the partner schools with the Holy Family Senior School sending five teachers to this event. Mr K Brosnan, who is the overall project coordinator, was accompanied by Mr C Barry, Ms A Kinsella, Ms D Meagher and Ms L Brennan and they had the opportunity to observe the Swedish education system through classroom observations and participation in cooperative learning activities. A cultural and social programme allowed the participants to learn something of Swedish life and which included a museum visit to learn about the culture and traditions of the Sammi people. On their return, the teachers gave a presentation to all the staff on their experience.
SPAIN – MARCH 2022
In March of 2022, the mobilities, which had been paused due to the pandemic, were able to resume. Four staff members (Mr K Brosnan, Mr C Barry, Mr C Scarry and Ms L Brennan) travelled to Sagunt in Spain to CEIP Ausias March primary school. The theme of the training was “Celebrating Cultural Festivals”. The annual Fallas festival was held at the time of the visit, and the school demonstrated how it incorporates activities into the curriculum that tie in with this festival. The children worked collaboratively in order to undertake various projects related to Fallas. The school also organised its own celebrations of the festival. The cultural trips included a visit to the city of Valencia as well as a visit to the Town Hall in Sagunt for a reception hosted by the mayor.
SLOVAKIA – APRIL 2022
“Brilliant Stars International School” in Bratislava were the hosts for this Erasmus+ visit. This school is a private, international school in which the language of instruction is English. The theme of the training was “Celebrating Cultural Diversity” in which the school demonstrated how it celebrates international days. The Holy Family teachers (Mr K Brosnan, Ms R Sherlock, Ms L Brennan and Ms L Walsh) experienced how the school celebrated International Roma Day. The children had completed projects on the Roma and a guest speaker, who is Roma herself, gave a presentation in the school. Roma songs were taught to the children. There was also an opportunity to visit a state school where a roundtable discussion was held with the senior management and support teachers in order to share good practices in inclusive education. Some practical advice was given on supporting the inclusion of refugee children from Ukraine. Some classroom observations allowed this to be also seen in practice.
Turkey – MAY 2022
In May 2022, four teachers (Mr K Brosnan, Mr C Barry, Mr B Dunne and Ms A McManus) made the long journey to Zonguldak, Turkey in order to visit our partner school, Kilimli Ismet Inönü Ilkokulu. This is a primary school situated in a mining city on the shores of the Black Sea in Northern Turkey. Our Turkish hosts gave us a warm welcome to their school. The opportunity was given to visit classrooms and learn about the Turkish system of education. A visit was also arranged to a Special School. A seminar, delivered by the Professor of Special Education in the local university, was also held. The cultural aspect of the training programme allowed for the opportunity to learn about Turkish life. Interesting trips were held, such as to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Safranbolu.
Estonia – June 2022
The final mobility in the “UNITE” project took place in Krootuse, Estonia. The host school,
Krootuse Pohikool, is a small, country school and it facilitated the visit of teachers from all the
partner schools in the project. Holy Family Senior School was represented by its principal, Ms
Róisín Brennan, the project coordinator, Mr K Brosnan as well as staff members Ms L Brennan
and Ms C Moloney. They observed how those with additional needs are supported both within
the school system and beyond. The work of the school’s speech therapist and how she assists
those needing additional support in speech and language formed part of the activities engaged
in. A visit was also held in a special school, catering for children with profound disabilities. The
support given to young adults with special needs after their formal schooling is over was
observed on a visit to a special residential village. The cultural aspect of the training included
trips to Tartu and the opportunity to visit Tallinn.
