Integration of children with intellectual disabilities in More Primary school

Latvia

More Primary school

Siguldas street 10, Mores pagasts, Siguldas novads, Rīgas rajons, LV 2170, LATVIA Phone.: (371) 64147217 Email: moressk@inbox.lv

Governmental

In years 2006.-2008 with support from European Social fund, state budget and Sigulda county a project in two parts “Integration of children with intellectual disabilities in More Primary school” was implemented. The overall aim of the project is integration into society of children with special needs from Sigulda county and surroundings, decreasing their social exclusion and facilitating development of human resources. The direct aim is integration of children with intellectual disabilities into More Primary school by creating a proper learning environment.
Within the project 4 special A/B and C education level classes for children with intellectual disabilities were established at More Primary school. These children so far have been enrolled in special schools. Thanks to successful implementation of the project, 18 children with intellectual disabilities from Sigulda county have opportunity to educate in a comprehensive school. New integrative learning methods and programmes have been elaborated, providing opportunity for children with intellectual disabilities according to their age and capacities to gain skills and knowledge, receive psychological support and interact with peers.
Learning methods developed by More teachers are practical and applicable in other similar schools.
Integrated school provides opportunity for children to learn and live close to their home and during education they are not drawn away from their families which happen if child goes in the special school, far away from home. This gives opportunity for parents to actively be involved in learning and growing process.
Implementation of the project has saved More Primary school from being closed (due to the lack of students) and has provided opportunity to preserve working places for teachers. Teachers have acquired appropriate qualification and experience working with children with intellectual disability, raised their qualification and competitiveness in job market.
All children at More Primary school have gained experience in social interacting, facilitating their ability for understanding and accepting others the way they are, even if they are different.

More Primary school is one of rare education establishments providing opportunity to children with intellectual disability to educate in a comprehensive school.

The benefits of the project are being used after the end of the project. The development plan of Sigulda county 2007.-2009 defines many aims towards social integration of people with disabilities into society. As a result, third round of the project has been envisaged to broaden scope of the educational programmes provided in More primary school to include further grades (10., 11 and 12.) , focusing on skills needed for independent living: household, technologies and social studies.
A survey of 76 families who raise children with disabilities in Sigulda county was done, showing that families would like to have the possibilities for youngsters to continue education, acquire profession in the county.

The survey showed that the opportunity to educate in a school near by saves financial and time resources of the family as they don’t’ have to spend so much money and time on transport to the school. And this gives opportunity to use this money and time more useful – having more quality time together, having time to find job and return to work. Parents also highly value the co-operation with teachers and their dedication, as they have noticed significant improvements in development of their children during learning process

Wide dissemination of project results in local media. An informative material was produced and distributed about the experiences gained during project implementation.

Informative material about the experiences gained during project implementation was distributed to Sigulda county NGOs, schools, medical praxis. The information was spread also to universities and other municipalities during study visits.

More Primary school, integration, children with intellectual disability