By implementing the project we wanted to - develop key initiatives and strategies in the school Strategic Plan - to plan and implement new methodologies so that they can easily be adapted to our school - improve teaching and learning by raising staff expertise and competences within a European context - enhance and be adaptive to new curriculum, staff and pupils' needs and requirements - develop leadership skills in staff, including confidence building - develop a multicultural approach to learning - develop innovative approaches to teaching and learning - improve outcomes by developing new learning methods and strategies - enhance ICT and associated strategies to motivate and encourage learners - Learn from observation of other practice in Europe We wanted that courses provided by the IFOM help us to gain these skills, help us to develop a network of international contacts, developing knowledge and understanding of the special education system in other European countries in order to broaden our teachers’ understanding their practices and policies and to improve knowledge and understanding of creative approaches in education.
Rowan Gate Primary School is constantly striving to further our understanding of successful teaching methodologies and how they will impact on the specific learning needs of young pupils with Special Educational Needs. As we continue to develop a new generation of Teachers for the 21st Century, we welcome the opportunity to meet and collaborate with colleagues in other parts of Europe. Many of our pupils at Rowan Gate Primary School have experienced failure within a traditional academic curriculum and we are keen to maximise learning opportunities through utilising a range of creative and practical methodologies. Our interaction with colleagues and partners within Europe has already yielded positive benefits in terms of innovative methodologies and opportunities for reflection based on observations of how 'others' do what we do. Maintaining and developing long-term links with our colleagues in Europe is seen as a critical aspect of our overall mission for continual improvement, believing that geographical barriers should not be barriers to sharing good practice across a European / global community. We believe that participation in the project will help to meet challenges posed by our school Strategic Plan tasks.