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Manchester Communication Academy (MCA)

Manchester Communication Academy (MCA) works to improve outcomes for children, families and the community. This secondary academy opened in 2010 to serve one of the most disadvantaged inner-city neighbourhoods in England. From the outset, the academy’s sponsor, a large employer in the city, wanted the school to help to contribute to a vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood, and committed to addressing the many inter-related economic, social and physical challenges which characterise the neighbourhood. This mission has directly shaped the academy programme, which places equal importance on ‘teaching and learning’ and ‘social investment’. The school’s social investment department is a highly distinctive feature of its overall strategy for addressing the impacts of disadvantage on young people’s education and wider life chances.

Malmaskolan

To improve student success and prevent early school leaving, the Malmaskolan established a Student Health Team, comprised of a school nurse, a special education teacher, the principal, the school counselor, the leisure-time pedagogues, the study and career counselor, a social worker, the school physician and a school psychologist. Since 2005, this Health Team has been the core for the development of teaching at the school, and is a hub for both teaching and school development. They have open meetings thrice weekly where teachers can discuss issues, and where a wide range of potential measures to support students is identified.

Schlangenfuß

This project was set up more than 10 years ago to reintegrate students who refused to go to school. Since 2007, the programme has focused solely on students who suffer from school phobia, anxiety disorders or depression. The programme is unique in Austria and is publicly funded.

IndY (Individualized Learning at the school centre Ybbs)

In the school year 2015/16 the Schulzentrum Ybbs (a school center consisting of three vocational upper secondary schools) introduced a concept called IndY, which involves that 20% of the teaching time is intended for individualized learning. IndY aims at improving students’ expertise, motivation, self-responsibility, self-management, collaborative skills, emotional intelligence and learning methods.

Electronic games for the blind

Inclusive electronic games in 3 languages that can also be played by blind children. Based on lots of end-user research and using special auditory interfaces (binaural sound), players can play using headphones. The games have helped teachers introduce pupils/students to the computer in a friendly way, connect them to non-blind students through play, and connect with their peers in numerous ways. The games have been downloaded more than 7,000 times from users around the world.

Youth Coaching (Jugendcoaching)

Youth Coaching offers guidance for youth aged 14 and older. Its main target groups include students in 9th grade, youth who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) up to the age of 19 years, and youth with special educational needs up to the age of 24. It aims at reducing early school leaving and supporting students in choosing their future career and/or educational path. Participation in Youth Coaching is free and on a voluntary basis.

Structural Indicators for Schools for Developing Inclusive Systems in and around Schools

This set of structural indicators for inclusive systems in and around schools can be used by school heads, teachers, parents or other school partners to reflect on the inclusiveness of their school. The indicators are phrased as statements with yes or no answers, which can guide school actors in self-evaluating in a range of relevant areas. Inclusion in schools is seen as supportive and quality learning environment with welcoming and caring schools and classrooms. It is accomplished by preventing discrimination, approaching learner's needs holistically (emotional, physical, cognitive and social), and recognizing learners' talents and voices. The key areas covered by the indicators include: a whole school approach to developing inclusive systems teacher and school leadership quality promotion of system integration of policy and practice a multidisciplinary focus on health and welfare promoting parental involvement and family support and meeting the needs of particularly vulnerable individuals and groups The choice of indicators draws upon key EU Council and European Commission policy documents and recent international evidence on inclusive education. This tool is part of a wider Report on Structural indicators for inclusive systems in and around schools, which provides a background and explanations for each of the indicators. Authors:Paul Downes, Institute of Education, Dublin City University Erna Nairz-Wirth, Vienna University of Economics and Business Viktorija Rusinaitė, PPMI

INCLUD-ED Book on Successful Educational Actions

This monograph analyses and describes successful educational actions with a specific focus on vulnerable groups. Concrete data that shows success in school performance is provided, as well as on children, teachers and families accounts of the impact of this success. Alongside, there is an analysis of the relationship between these childrens educational performance with their inclusion or exclusion from different areas of society. This monograph provides actions for success identified through the INCLUD-ED project, thus providing both, contrasted data and solid theoretical background and development. Some examples of these actions are interactive groups, extension of the learning time, homework clubs, tutored libraries, family and community educative participation, family education, or dialogic literary gatherings. All these actions have been defined as successful educational actions, which mean that they lead to both efficiency and equity. Finally, recommendations for policy and practice are included and discussed.