Our main objective was to strengthen the social and emotional competences of students with special educational needs and to support their better inclusion in school life and society. We aimed to help students communicate more confidently, participate in group activities, build and maintain relationships, manage emotions and reduce behaviours related to anxiety, aggression or withdrawal. At the same time, the project focused on improving teachers’ professional capacity by providing practical knowledge and methods in drama therapy, enabling them to integrate creative and therapeutic approaches into everyday teaching. The project also strengthened cooperation between partner institutions and supported the exchange of good practices, creating a shared understanding of how drama therapy can be used to promote the social, emotional and behavioural development of children with special needs. In the longer term, the project contributed to reducing the risk of exclusion, increasing students’ self-confidence and well-being, and improving schools’ ability to respond to diverse learning and support needs.
We applied for this Erasmus+ project to respond to the clearly identified needs of our students with special educational needs, whose social and emotional skills were insufficiently developed and who therefore faced difficulties in communication, self-expression, emotional regulation and participation in social life. These challenges were further intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic, which limited social interaction and increased isolation, anxiety and behavioural difficulties. Our aim was to find more innovative, creative and therapeutic ways to support these students, helping them express themselves more freely, develop self-confidence and take a more active role in their communities. Drama therapy was chosen as a suitable approach because it provides a safe and structured environment where children can explore emotions, build trust and strengthen communication through play, movement and storytelling. At the same time, the project sought to improve teachers’ professional competence by equipping them with practical methods and confidence to use drama therapy in educational contexts, while international cooperation enabled the exchange of good practices and strengthened the institutional capacity of all partner schools.