F.R.I.E.N.D.E.S.K. -Foster Reception for Inclusive Educational Needs: Development of Educational Support for Kids

The project aims to reduce social exclusion of children 0-6 years old coming from marginalized contexts.

Challenge

Poverty and social exclusion are complex and multifaceted issues, which affect children aged 0-6 in particular. As stated in the document “Tackling Social and Cultural Inequalities through Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe” issued by EACEA in 2009, preschool children are especially vulnerable to poverty which, in early childhood more than in later years, often results in persistent learning problems and behavioral maladjustment.

Specifically, the pre-primary age is an especially sensitive period in children’s development. Most of the risks suffered by children are related to low income, social class or ethnic minority status. For this reason, acting on educational poverty does not only mean increasing the number of children attending preschool, but also working on the social, educational and economic context that involves the whole community.

Innovation

F.R.I.E.N.D.E.S.K. (www.friendesk.eu ) aims at reducing social exclusion of children 0-6 years old coming from marginalized contexts, through the implementation of an innovative ECEC (Early Childhood Education and Care) model, which involves the creation of an integrated system where teachers, educators, health care workers and volunteers could work together to provide children households with an inclusive and all-encompassing service. An integrated interactive Platform (MOOC) is being created by our colleagues from Blue Room Innovation SL, intended not only to provide training, but also to contribute to the development of the reseacher’s identity and their eficient participation in the community.