Erasmus+ School Education: St. Sylvester’s Infant School

Erasmus+ School Education: St. Sylvester’s Infant School


30 January 2025

Erasmus+ Small-scale partnerships projects are supported under Key Action 2 within the Erasmus+ programme. This action aims to broaden access to Erasmus+ for smaller organisations and underrepresented groups in school education, adult education, vocational training, youth, and sport. St. Sylvester’s Infant School partnered with two other European Schools in Estonia and Spain as part of their Erasmus+ project, Kinder to the Sea. The aim of the project was to develop environmental awareness in young children. Read on to learn more about their inspiring project! 

Each of the schools carried out parallel activities, demonstrating to the children that the same environmental challenges were faced by each of the communities across Europe, regardless of geographical distance. To inspire the children, create friendships and strengthen connections across borders, each school had a friendly mascot who sent digital postcards, sharing stories of their mobility experience.   

A key activity was a litter pick-up day, held at a beach and a local marsh. In Spain, the marsh, dry as a result of climate change, provided a poignant and real-life lesson on the impact of environmental changes. This hands-on experience sparked conversations among children and teachers, encouraging self-reflection and problem-solving around sustainability. At the school entrances, colourful project boards showcased these activities and achievements, allowing parents to also see the progress and impact of international collaboration and Erasmus+. 

As part of their Erasmus+ project, teachers shared best educational practices, observed early years education lessons, and engaged in professional development with their international peers. Four teachers travelled to Tallinn, Estonia, while seven teachers visited Seville, Spain. In Seville, teachers explored innovative early education techniques and environmental practices, gaining valuable insights into supporting children with special needs. Cathy Averille, the Irish project coordinator, highlighted the strategies they observed to help children manage their emotions—practices that have now been successfully implemented in St. Sylvester’s Infant School, benefiting both students and staff.  

The project also fostered friendships and cultural understanding. Children exchanged video messages about their lives and cultures, sent Christmas cards, and participated in a pen pal project. Through these activities, the children discovered that, although they live in different countries, they share the ability to make a positive impact—both in their local communities and on a global scale.  

It was amazing to see the excitement on our pupils’ faces when our “visitors” arrived from Estonia and Spain. The interactions were spontaneous, playful and educational, with the children initiating what proved to be an enriching dialogue on environmental awareness.

Cathy Averill, Teacher & Irish Project Coordinator 

The Kinder to the Sea Erasmus+ project strengthened connections between schools, fostered knowledge sharing, and demonstrated the power of international collaboration in addressing shared challenges. It’s a best practice example of how Erasmus+ brings learning to life, empowers learners and educators alike to work together and learn from one another. 

If you’re interested in learning about what Erasmus+ has to offer, explore the helpful resources below: 

For more information on Erasmus+ and how you can get involved, contact our team at etd@leargas.ie