Cross - Border Programmes 2004 - 2008 - Department of Education, Northern Ireland

Cross-Border Professional Exchange Programme under Peace II 2004-2006

The Special Educational Needs Cross - Border Professional Exchange Programme was funded under Measure 5.5: " Education, Cross - Border School and Youth Cooperation" of the European Programme for Peace and Reconcilation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland ( Peace II).

The Programme enabled teachers, educational psychologists and other professionals from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to exchange experiences and models of best practice regarding three key areas :- Autism, Dyslexia and Marginalised Youth.

The Programme concluded with a conference in Newry in May 2006, which reported on progress and published resources to assist the wider education system to learn from the project.

These Resources reflect the wealth of knowledge and experience within the Groups.

Resources

Case - Based Learning is a strategy which uses stories of real - life events as a vehicle for discussion and creative thinking around issues relevant to school communities.

Using the format of story telling views were exchanged on what is good practice to help others to reflect on and develop their support for children and young people marginalised by their ASD.

This provides some practical tips and strategies that participants have used in their work involving pupils with difficulties arising from dyslexia.

Cross - Border Parent, Community and School Partnership Programme 2006-2008

This followed on from the sucessful Cross - Border Professional Exchange Programme, 2004-2006 funded by Peace II.

Selected primary, secondary and special schools from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland participated in the programme which was completed in June 2008.

There were three elements to the programme:-

1. Children with Autism - A Home to School Support Programme - This encouraged schools to develop positive working relationships with parents and offered advice, practical help and support as the child settled into school.

2. Hard to Help Young People - The home - School Virtual Link - This aimed to use ICT to provide home based computerised learning support training to six schools and support identified young people over an 18 month period.

3. A Portable Language and Communication Programme - A total of 22 schools from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland participated in the project to develop a support programme to enable parents / carers to assist in the development of children's language skills.

The three elements produced a binder containing the following resources:- See my Word Tree Grow; Through the School Gates and Autism - Coping with the Changes from Home to School.