Evaluation from Podebrady 2013

UK

Belgium

Czech Rep

Evaluation Form

1. What did you like the most?

The traditional celebration to chase Winter away and welcome Spring and the involvement of the whole school.  Working in class with the pupils, communicating and being involved in their learning.  Meeting students with similar needs as our school and gaining confidence in the practise we use.

Learning about the therapies used in the school through workshop sessions. 

Communicating with the staff both inside and out of school and sharing between different countries and different lifestyles.

The variety in the program. We had all kind of activities that were interesting. The therapy sessions  were very good.  There was just enough time to learn what the therapies were all abought. The colour therapy was something totally new for us. The activities that we did in the classes were great. It was fun to work with the children.  The game in Podébrady was good prepared and great  fun.  We learned more about the town where we stayed. The visit to  Jedličkův ústav a školy in Prague was interesting for us. The way the school was organised was almost the same as in our school.

It was fine that meeting was on our school made. We enjoyed all activities. We were proud of our students, which prepared the meal for our guests.

Very funny afternoon with "geogame" activity, art workshop with UK colleagues, Belgian sports activities

2. What can you use in your own school?

We have already shared the Winter/Spring celebration in which all the pupils and staff were involved in preparing and acting out.

Creative ideas to share with pupils and staff.  Art ideas to use within the whole school.  Also use of creative work for Mini Enterprise.  Decorating the classroom with branches and hanging seasonal items off them.

Ways to work with ASD pupils.  The 1,2,3 choose approach (TEACHH) back to Lakeside for ASD pupils.  Looking at how TEACHH and work stations can be introduced in our classes.

The use of the Tibetan Singing bowl exercise

The music therapy: we can use it in the different classes and in the sensory room. We will talk about it with our colleagues. We saw that it can be used as relaxation or to activate and stimulate children to move. We have children who like to relax so they will like it.

Biofeedback: It can improve the concentration of the children. There are classes where we can use the exercises. We can search exercises that we can do in group.  We will try to start a lesson with some exercises to stimulate the brains to work togheter.

It could be a new challenge for the staff to learn more about the therapies that we saw in Podëbrady.

The wonderful welcome rituel for Spring was a special experience. We want to do it next year. It is a special moment to learn children something about nature. It can make them realise something special is happening. When spring comes everyone must be  happy.

Some ideas for craft and P.E. Interesting work with shaving foam and colors. Rap into music

3. How can this impact on students?

Pupils can learn about a different culture through practical experiences.

Use of simple clear timetable and highly structured classroom. 

Better learning / activities to do

Change in perception, new ideas

Change in routine, more engaged

New ideas which will broaden the students learning and improve their learning environment.

The Tibetan Singing bowl will give students techniques to be more self aware.

Our students learned some English words and tried to use it for communication. They enjoyed the sport and art activities with Belgium teachers. They were happy to show guests dance performances and playing the guitar with iPad. Children enjoyed contact with teachers from other countries.

4. How can this impact on staff?

I feel that it will strengthen our creative side of the curriculum. Improve the external environment of the classroom, as well as helping to make the classroom a calmer place.

By sharing and using different ideas and experiences learnt on the visit.

Clear simple vocabulary, reminding staff to be consistent.

Positive to know that techniques / practice works with similar pupils elsewhere.

I enjoyed meeting. It was very nice, positive, happy atmosphere. I could talk English and I learned some informations about teaching in UK.

I was a little afraid for first time (for speaking in English), but the meeting gave to me very positive feedback for my job.

I like met people with open heart for children with disability.

The Karen´s prezentation was fantastic

5. What did you learn about stories and communication?

We learnt that our pupils can enjoy stories from a different culture despite language differences and communication difficulties through use of props, illustrations, drama and expression. We can communicate even if we do not speak the same language – through sign, body language, symbols and facial expressions. 

I learnt how to produce a story on an I pad.

We realised again that you don’t have to speak Tsjech to communicate in Podébrady school. The warmth and spontaniety of the children says it all.  We appriciate that our colleagues in Podébrady try to speak English to explain things.

It is possible to use quite easy story for interesting teaching. It is good for students to teach about things by way of more senses.

6. How could the visit be improved?

The visit was very well organised with lots of opportunities to learn about the Czech culture through activities and from the staff and pupils we met in Podebrady. 

We enjoyed the opportunity to spend more time in school this time. 

There is nothing that we could do better.  All activities were good, we had an excellent hotel and nice people around us. The only thing that could be improved was the weather but that is very difficult to do.

Thanks to everyone who helped to make this visit so good.

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7. What would you like to learn more about from Podebrady Special School?

To find out the impact that different therapies have on pupils learning and how this is assessed.

Spend more time in school to get a better feel of the learning environment. 

The use of the trampoline to improve co-ordination.

The effectiveness of TEACHH and work stations with the older students.