HOST A COMENIUS ASSISTANT. What is Comenius? Enhance the quality of European education Encourage the exchange of ideas and experience within the education.

HOST A COMENIUS ASSISTANT

What is Comenius?

• Enhance the quality of European education

• Encourage the exchange of ideas and experience within the education systems of European countries

• Broaden the outlook and widen the experience of young Europeans

• Encourage a greater awareness of a shared European heritage

“The Comenius Assistantship has been a most worthwhile experience not only for the assistant but for the children of our school, the staff and our wider school community. I believe that we learned as much

from our Assistant as she learned from us.”- Gainford Primary School, Darlington

What does a Comenius Assistant do?

• Bring a European dimension to the school

• Introduce their culture across the curriculum

• Teach their native language

• Teach their specialist subject

• Help develop links with other countries

• Enhance extra-curricular life of school

Who are Comenius Assistants?

• Intending or trainee teachers of any subject

• Must not yet have been employed as a teacher

• Opportunity to gain teaching and cultural

experiences and be a “cultural ambassador” for

their country

• Funded by a grant from their own National

Agency

Where are Comenius Assistants from?

• Choice of 32 participating countries!– All EU Countries– Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein,

Switzerland– Turkey, Croatia

How does it work?

• Timetable of 12-16 hours a week

• Flexible duration (from 13 to 45 weeks)

• Flexible start date across academic year

• Cluster applications

• Application process – see Project

Lifecycle and Application Guidance

School Responsibilities: Preparation

• Child protection

– CRB plus Police Certificate from home country

• Insurance

• Assistance with finding accommodation

– Host Family? Private let? Flat share?

School Responsibilities: Support

• Support and mentoring – nominate a co-ordinator

• Regular meetings and evaluation

• Attend a regional briefing for host schools

• Submit a work programme to British Council

• Write a report at the end of placement

Are we eligible?• Assistant’s language not taught on curriculum (secondary

schools)

• Not hosting the same nationality for more than two consecutive years

• UK National Priorities - extra points are given to:

– Schools who have not hosted in 2009/10 or 2010/11

– Schools who have started Comenius School Partnerships in 2010, or applying to do so in 2011

– Schools registered with eTwinning or ISA

Timeline

• Application deadline: 31 January 2011

• Eligibility Assessment - February

• Quality Assessment (external) – March

• Informed of outcome – end of April

• Matching Process- May- June

• Receive Comenius Assistant’s details- end of June

• Comenius Assistants start from September 2011

Help and Advice

Comenius Website– Application Guidance– EC Good Practice

Guide for Hosts and Assistants

– Lifelong Learning Programme Guide

– Quality Assessment Criteria

Other sources– Contact Comenius

Team– Application

Surgeries

Contact

E: [email protected]

T: 0161 957 7755