Three Legged Cross First School

Pupils benefitting from being more aware of the world outside their classrooms and increasing their cultural awareness

Three Legged Cross First School in Wimborne, Dorset, has received funding for a three year Erasmus+ school partnership project as the coordinating school. Erasmus+ funding makes it possible for Three Legged Cross First School to partner with schools from France, Spain, Finland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Romania and Poland.

Their project, ‘Once upon an Erasmus T.A.L.E’ (traditional arts and languages across Europe), aims to teach and learn art, languages, cultures, ICT and literacy from across their eight partner schools over three years. They have a number of pupil and staff activities planned, including sharing reading and writing approaches for staff, and art and literacy activities for pupils. The schools are using eTwinning, the European Union’s online community tool for schools and colleges, to communicate and share their experiences.

Objectives and benefits

Their objective is to raise attainment for all pupils with particular focus on a targeted group of children to track them over three years, in reading and writing. They hope to open the world up to their children, many of whom come from very deprived backgrounds where travel, even outside of their village, is not possible, and to explore other arts and cultures.

They also hope to develop new pedagogical approaches, increase tolerance and understanding of other cultures and develop sustainable relationships. It will also be of benefit to their staff as it allows them to learn new methods and strategies.

The whole school can share art activities with each other, learning cultural similarities and differences. eTwinning will be the gateway to share all that they learn together in one place.

Meetings and effects

The school has hosted their first transnational meeting with all their partners. A total of 23 teachers and staff have travelled to France for the second meeting. Both meetings have had a positive personal impact on participants.

The pupils are also now more aware of the world outside their village, and amazed to see the same painting they studied in the UK also being studied in France and across Europe. Pupils answer the register in a variety of languages, they can even greet and sing songs in some of their partners’ languages. All of which has helped the school to be re-accredited for the International Schools Award. 

Want to know about Erasmus+ funding for schools? Check out our schools funding page!