Early childhood intervention gets PRECIOUS support
Children experiencing developmental disabilities or delays require a support system to help advance their development. Experts say early support for these children that number 400,000 in the EU is a holistic method of early intervention and prevention of long-term impediment. Early childhood intervention (ECI) helps maximise a child's chances of reaching normal milestones in development and minimise any delays. The EU-funded PRECIOUS ('Professional resources in early childhood intervention: online utilities and standards') project is promoting a common European training frame for ECI in countries that lack systemised models. PRECIOUS is supported by the Lifelong Learning programme's Leonardo da Vinci scheme, which links policy to practice in the field of vocational education and training. The partners will use the European Education Passport on Professional 'Early Intervention' (EBIFF) curriculum as a model of reference, and initiate training courses. EBIFF is a pilot project also funded under the Leonardo da Vinci programme. According to the PRECIOUS partners, the transfer of the curriculum includes key skill-trainings possibilities such as 'joining the family', 'communicating in stressful situations', and 'designing interdisciplinary plans'. They also underlined how vital skills development and the transfer of gained knowledge are when working with vulnerable families. Coordinated by the S.I.N.N. - Social Innovative Network in Austria, the PRECIOUS consortium comprises 12 universities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and institutes from 9 European countries including Belgium, Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia, Turkey and the UK. The partners are cooperating to develop a self-assessment tool and related support materials that would be used by ECI professionals worldwide. Professor Chris Robertson of the Institute of Education at the University of Worcester in the UK, who is helping develop the tool to support ECI professionals, said: 'In all countries, identifying children with difficulties at an early stage is very important as is empowering their families/carers to support them effectively.' PRECIOUS seeks to provide a pan-European resource that will support training for professionals from all EU countries, 'giving a consistent level of care and support and providing opportunities for countries to share their existing good practice with others through the website', she said. The key materials, such as a CD-ROM, evaluation methods, website, transparency and certification, and open and distance learning, will give professionals from a wide range of disciplines the edge they need to work more effectively with young children who require extra support, as well as with their families or carers. According to the partners, a new European international Masters degree in Early Childhood Intervention could be established as part of PRECIOUS. 'This is something that we are just exploring at the moment, but something that we think could be a huge asset to all professionals working in this field,' Professor Robertson commented.