C.E.I.P. “ D.ª Avelina Cortázar ” Alberite (La Rioja) Ana Ibáñez Gamallo

1. SPANISH EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM C.E.I.P. “D.ª Avelina Cortázar”Alberite (La Rioja)Ana Ibáñez Gamallo Comenius Project: “Me and My Europe: Intercultural Challenges of Modern Pre-Primary Education”

2. GENERAL INFORMATION: • STAGES: (explain the ages involved in each stage) • COMPULSORY SCHOOLING: From 6 to 16 years old. Compulsory Schooling includes Primary Education (6-12) and Secondary Education (E.S.O.: 12-16).

3. ARE STATE SCHOOLS FREE?Yes. • THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY AND HOW MUCH: • TRANSPORT: The Government pays for the transport in case children don’t have a school in their locality. • BOOKS: The Government gives different aids or grants. These aids depend on the stage / course and the county. Because of the financial crisis, they are changing lately (there are not so many aids as there were before). During this course 2013-2014, in La Rioja, children in Kindergarten and Pre-School don’t receive any aid. With regard to Primary Education, children in the 1st, 2nd and 4th Course receive 90 euros (= 56%) to buy textbooks if the families meet some economic requirements. In the 3rd, 5th and 6th course of Primary Education the Government finance a Free-Textbook Programme. Thanks to this Programme, textbooks are lended. In E.S.O. (Secondary Education), pupils receive 140 euros (= 56%) if the families meet some economic requirements. • LUNCH: In our school, children who choose to have lunch at school pay 80,13 euros/month. The Government gives some grants to those families who experience financial problems. There are 3 kinds of grants, depending on the family’s income: 480 euros/academic course, 240 euros/academic course, 120 euros/academic course.

4. CONTENTS: • SUBJECTS IN PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION AND NUMBER OF HOURS PER WEEK: 1.- Self-knowledge and personal autonomy. 2.- Knowledge of closest environment. 3.- Language: Communication and representation.

5. Who chooses these subjects? The Government establishes a common curriculum. • Is it local or are they the same in the whole country? The Curriculum is slightly different in other regions.

6. SPECIAL DAYS CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC COURSE: FIRST TERM:  • Children’s Rights Day (20th November)  We cooperate with “Save The Children” NGO and organise a Solidarity Walk. Teachers, pupils and parents participate in this activity, whose main aim is collecting money and helping children from poor countries. • Constitution Day in Spain (6th December)  We have to develop an activity (minimum 1 hour) related to our Constitution. Each year we must relate the activities to a certain article, which is dictated by the Administration. • Christmas (December)  Before Christmas Holidays we prepare a Christmas Festival at School. We sing Christmas Carols, play some theatre… Parents are invited to it.

7. SECOND TERM: • School Day of Non-Violence and Peace (30th January)  Every year we celebrate this day and develop a special activity with children. • Carnival  Pre-school children celebrate Carnival during a whole week called “Semana de la Patarrona”. Each day they must wear the required complement. On Friday they wear all of them! Primary children prepare carnival complements in the Art class (masks…). Children wear them on Friday, during the “Carnival Break”, which is very funny for children. They love it! • “Tree Day” Every year, we plant trees around Alberite. Then, we eat chocolate and an orange (it has become a tradition). • Book Day (23rd April)  We prepare special activities to celebrate this special day at school.

8.  THIRD TERM: • End-of-course trip  At the end of the course we go on a trip altogether. • End-of-course party  In June we celebrate our School Party. We play games, dance, do some workshops… Parents collaborate on these activities.

9. PROJECTS DEVELOPED IN YOUR SCHOOL: • Comenius Project: “Me and My Europe: Intercultural Challenges of Modern Pre-Primary Education” (2012-2014). • PILC Project (Linguistic Innovation in Schools Project): This Project consists of teaching non-linguistic subjects in another language. In our school 7 teachers are participating in it. We include routines, vocabulary and expressions in English, and teach the areas of Art and “Knowledge of the Natural, Social and Cultural Environment” in English. • “English Language Assistant Programme”: Thanks to this Programme our School count on a native American speaker who reinforces students duringthe English lessons. • ICT Project: Thanks to this Project we have more ICT Resources at School, and we are able to include them in our daily teaching. We promote the use of ICT resources in every subject. Teachers and pupils are very involved in it.

10. E-Twinning: We develop the Project “My Little Book”, in collaboration with Finland, Norway and Bulgaria. Thanks to e-Twinning teachers also cooperate with schools from other countries. • “Healthy Breaks”: We promote healthy food. Once a week, children have some fruit during the break. We receive this fruit from the Administration. • “Good Behaviour Programme”: We work on strategies to encourage good behaviour.

11. METHODOLOGY: • INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: - Our School consists of one big building, where Pre-Primary and Primary children learn. There is also a sport centre. - There are 267 pupils from 3 to 12 years old. - 26 Teachers constitute the Staff. - The School Management Team consists of one Headmaster, one Head of Studies and One Secretary. - There are also teachers who are Coordinators (representatives): One Coordinator in Pre-Primary Education, and three Coordinators in Primary Education (1st, 2nd and 3rd Cycle of Primary Education). - There is a School Board that includes the School Management Team and Representatives of Teachers, Pupils and Parents. - There is also a Parents Association.

12. EXPLAIN THE METHODOLOGY USED IN YOUR SCHOOL: • The aim of early childhood education is to contribute to the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development of a child. In Pre-Primary Education the methodology is global and active, based on a meaningful learning and games. • In Primary Education the objective is to give Spanish students a common and solid basic education in culture, oral expression, reading, writing and arithmetic. Required courses include: social studies, art education, physical education, the Spanish language, foreign languages and maths. • The teaching methodology is directed towards developing pupils’ knowledge and integrating their different experiences and learning styles. Education is focused on personalized and tailored classes depending on the level of each child.

13. The teaching process is guided by learning functionality, relying essentially on the ‘learning to learn’ principle and ensuring that what is learned will be of actual use to pupils under normal circumstances. • Textbooks are always used, and new technologies are introduced in the teaching-process. • As regards pupils with special educational needs and measures for attention to diversity, we can say that the Spanish Constitution along with all the Educational Laws stipulates that education is to pursue the full development of the pupil’s personality. The personalising of education, a basic principle of the educational system, signifies the permanent adaptation of educational intervention to each pupil’s ways of learning. This, in turn, implies recognizing that all pupils have educational needs and these may differ in each case, ranging from the most common, momentary and temporary of needs to the most serious and permanent of needs. All of them must be attended within the framework of a comprehensive education which is open to diversity.

14. DOES THE HEADMASTER DIRECT THE TEACHERS ABOUT THE METHOD? • It is up to Educational Institutions to define and develop the curriculum established by the various Autonomous Communities, taking the minimum core curriculum as a basis for drawing up the School Curricular Project and the Yearly Planning. • The School Curricular Project is one of the main documents in schools. In this document, the objectives, contents, methodological options and assessment criteria established for the official curriculum are set out, according to the particular characteristics of the school. Every Academic Course, the Yearly Planning is developed and updated taking into account the School Curricular Project. • These documents, that include the Methodology, are designed by the Teachers Assembly.

15. WHAT KIND OF PLANNING DO YOU USE? • At school we draw up the Yearly Planning, and then, each teacher develops a Classroom Planning, which is more specific and detailed. • Teachers usually use a two-week planning.

16. EXPLAIN BRIEFLY HOW YOU ASSESS THE CONTENTS: • The Ministry of Education stipulates the general guidelines on the assessment process for the entire State. In this way, assessment is carried out by the teachers, who are to evaluate pupils’ learning as well as their own teaching practices. • Evaluation of a pupil’s progress is expressed in one of the following terms: - PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION: Excellent / Good / Adequate / Not adequate. - PRIMARY EDUCATION: Outstanding (SB), Very Good (NT), Good (BI), Sufficient (SU), Insufficient (IN).

17. As a result of the process of continuous assessment, when a pupil's overall progress is below the required objectives for the course, we will adopt the necessary measures to reinforce the learning process and adapt the curriculum as required.

18. DO YOU HAVE BEGINNING AND FINAL TEST? • An initial pupil assessment is to be carried out at the beginning of the stage, serving as a springboard for subsequent learning. • As the assessment process is continuous, we assess pupils throughout the academic course.

19. PROMOTION TO NEXT GRADE: • Pre-Primary Education: As Pre-Primary Education is not Compulsory, it is unusual that children do not promote. A Psychologist’s report is required in case a child must repeat. •  Primary Education: In Primary Education there are three cycles. At the end of each cycle, and as a result of the evaluation process, a decision is to be made about whether or not to promote pupils to the following cycle. Pupils are promoted from one cycle to the next providing they have reached the corresponding objectives. When a pupil does not reach these objectives, he/she may be held back for one more year. However, this measure can only be taken once during Primary Education.

20. HOW DO YOU ASSIST CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS? DO YOU COUNT ON HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES? • As we said before, the personalising of education is a basic principle of the educational system. This fact signifies the permanent adaptation of educational intervention to each pupil’s ways of learning. • Children with special needs stay in their classes, with their partners, and receive a special support from the Tutor and teachers. Inclusion is fundamental. Furthermore, at School we count on two specialised teachers, who assist children with special needs, and there is also a speech therapist and a Psychologist. • When teachers are not directly teaching to their group, they help children with difficulties in other classrooms. • Apart from Human Resources, we count on Material Resources. We receive money from the administration to assist these children, and families also receive some grants.

21. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER THAT IS SPECIALIZED IN THIS FIELD? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE, LIKE FOR PLANNING THE WORK METHOD, MEETINGS WITH PARENTS AND OTHER SPECIALIST TEACHERS? WHO EVALUATES THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS? • As we said before, we count on two specialized teachers. Specialized teachers, in coordination with the tutors and teachers, plan the work. Cooperation and communication with specialized teachers is essential. • Specialized teachers adapt the plan of work, and of course they adapt the assessment. Both, specialized teachers and tutors evaluate the learning process. • Tutors are responsible for meeting children’s parents, but whenever it’s possible, specialized teachers are present too. Specialized teachers also meet parents if it’s necessary.

22. ITC RESOURCES: WHICH MATERIALS DO YOU HAVE AT SCHOOL? EXPLAIN HOW YOU USE THEM: • Computers, laptops and tablets: Our school boasts a Computers Room, which is frequently used by pupils that are both in Pre-primary and Primary Education. Apart from it, every class has got laptops/computers so that the teachers and pupils can use them. In the 3rd Cycle of Primary Education (5th and 6th Course), every child has got a laptop/tablet provided by the school, which they use to dvelop different activities, tasks, homework… • Interactive Digital Whiteboards: Every Pre-Primary classroom and some Primary Classrooms have Interactive Digital Whiteboards, which encourage active learning and are very useful during the teaching process.

23. Overhead Projectors and Speakers: Every classroom has got an overhead projector, connected to the computer/laptop and speakers, which we use very often. They are really useful. • Internet: Wifi is available in the whole building. Wired Internet is also available in the classrooms. • Photocopiers: We have three photocopiers in our school (one in each floor).

24. WHO GIVES YOU THESE RESOURCES AND MONEY? • The Administration provides us with resources and money to get these necessary ITC resources.

25. ARE THERE OTHER KIND OF LABORATORIES? • Our facilities include dining hall and kitchen, sports centre and library.

26. TIMETABLES: • NUMBER OF DAYS PER ACADEMIC COURSE THAT CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL: 175 days. • NUMBER OF DAYS PER ACADEMIC COURSE THAT TEACHERS ATTEND SCHOOL: 185 days. • WHEN DOES THE ACADEMIC COURSE START? (Approximately) The Academic Course starts in September. For example, in our School, children began classes on 11th September this Academic Course. • WHEN DOES THE ACADEMIC COURSE FINISH? (Approximately) The Academic Course finishes in June.For example, in our School, children will finish classes on 23rd June this Academic Course.

27. HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OFF: During this Academic Course, we will have the following holidays and days off: • 9th & 10th September: Festivals in Alberite: “Virgen de la Antigua”. When there are festivals in the village, it’s compulsory to have a day off at school. • 11th November: Festivals in Alberite: “St. Martín”. As we explained before, when there are festivals in the village, it’s compulsory to have a day off at school. • 6th & 9th December: These days are off all over Spain. We celebrate the Constitution Day (6th December) and the Day of the Virgin’s Immaculate Conception (8th December). • From 24th December to 7th January (both days included): Christmas Holidays. Remember in Spain the Three Wise Men bring presents on 6th January.

28. 24th February: “Educational Community Day”. Every School in La Rioja will have the day off. • From 17th to 27th April (both days included): Easter. Spain is a very religious country and we celebrate Easter. • 1st & 2nd May: We celebrate the “Labour Day” on 1st May. • 15th May: Festivals in Alberite: “St. Isidro”, which is the Day of the Market Gardeners. (Our school is situated in the “Iregua Valley”, where agriculture is one of the main activities). • 9th, 10th & 11th June: On 9th June we celebrate “La Rioja Day”, and on 11th June it’s St. Bernabé. There are festivals in Logroño, and we have these days off. • From 24th June to September: Summer Holidays.

29. SCHEDULES • HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK DO CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL? 25 Hours. • - HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK DO TEACHERS HAVE TO WORK? - With children: 25 hours. - Preparing materials: 4 hours at school and 8 hours 30 minutes at home.

30. EXPLAIN THE SCHEDULE IN A SCHOOL DAY: Pre-Primary Children: Primary Children:

31. TEACHERS’ SCHEDULE: • Class time (teachingperiod): 9 - 14 horas fromMondayto Friday (25 hours/week) • PreparingMaterials: 4 hours/week at school. Details are specified in thenexttimetable:

32. TEACHERS: • NUMBER OF YEARS YOU HAVE TO STUDY TO BECOME A TEACHER: 4 Years. • DEGREE: According to the “Bologna Process”“Degree in Early Childhood Education”.

33. SPECIALIST TEACHERS AVAILABLE IN PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION: • In Pre-Primary Education there are English Teachers and Religion Teachers. • In some schools, the Music Teacher and PE Teacher, who teach in Primary Education, also teach in Pre-Primary Education (this is just an option). • If there are 6 or more units in Pre-Primary Education, we count on a Support Teacher.

34. How many hours per week do they work and who pays them? They work as the rest of the teachers do. It’s the Government who pays them. • Have you got religion teachers? Who are they? How many hours per week? - Yes, we do have a Religion Teacher. - Religion Teachers are Certified Teachers who have coursed a specific course to teach Religion. - The number of hours/week that they work depend on the number of groups in the school. In our School, the Religion Teacher has 25,7 hours (20 hours of class time).

35. EXPLAIN WHICH IS THE PROCEDURE TO WORK IN YOUR SCHOOL AS A TEACHER • Entry Exams are necessary to work in State Schools in Spain. TEACHERS CAREER: HOW MANY STEPS DOES IT TAKE FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END TO GET HIGHER SALARY? Number of years spent as a teacher are payed. In this way, there is a monthly bonus for each three-year period worked as a teacher. There is also a monthly bonus for each six-year period worked as a teacher.

36. BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE HIERARCHY OF ROLES AND POSITIONS WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN YOUR COUNTRY: • In Spain the competence over education is shared between the State and the different Autonomous Communities. In this way, the State set a basis, and then the Autonomous Communities develop it, adapt it and carry it out. It is up to educational institutions to define and develop the curriculum established by the various Autonomous Communities, taking the minimum core curriculum as a basis for drawing up the School Curricular Project and the Yearly Planning.

37. ARE THERE ASSISTANTS AND WHAT KIND OF QUALIFICATION DO THEY NEED? • As we said before, we count on an Assistant in Pre-Primary Education (a Support Teacher) if there are 6 or more units in Pre-Primary Education. These Assistants are Pre-Primary Teachers. • Besides, thanks to the “English Language Assistant Programme”, we count on a native American speaker who reinforces students in the English lessons. Qualification is not required. Native English speakers who participate in this Programme receive some training to develop this job.

38. DO YOU HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY TEAM TO ASSIST YOU? • We count on a Psychologist who comes two days per week to our school. • His work is very important for pupils, teachers and families.

39. DO THE TEACHERS GET ANY WAGE SUPPLEMENTS (FREE LUNCH, FREE WORKING CLOTHES OR SOMETHING ELSE)? • We don’t receive any wage supplements.

40. HOW IMPORTANT ARE TEACHERS IN YOUR SOCIETY? • Some years ago, teachers were seen as important figures in the society, and people respected them very much. • However, things are changing, and, nowadays, it’s not like that. • In the last years, teachers have lost authority in Spain, and people question our work. Furthermore, society doesn’t really appreciate our important role to form future generations. This fact is negatively affecting the teaching process. • It’s essential that people support us. If we want to success, teachers and families should cooperate. We should walk together, in the same direction, to achieve a common goal: our children’s education. • Next “joke” summarize how people see us… 

42. OTHER ASPECTS: • RATIO PER CLASS:(Include the maximum number of pupils in a class) - Pre-Primary Education: 25 children. • WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SCHOOL BUILDING? - The Council owns the school, and they are responsible for the maintenance. • DUE TO THE FINANCIAL CRISIS, WHAT HAS CHANGED OR HAPPENED IN YOUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM? HAS ANYTHING CHANGED IN YOUR SCHOOL AND WORK? - There have been many cutbacks that affect teachers and pupils. Teacher’s Training Courses have almost disappear, our wages have been affected, there are less grants for children and less resources at school: we receive less money from the Government. Human Resources haven’t been affected by the moment.

43. THE END