The Butterfly Project: inclusion, participation and well-being of children with special needs in ECEC institutions.

<< Objectives >>The Butterfly Project has three main objectives: 1)To support the transition of children in vulnerable situations from home to ECEC institutions by developing and implementing a culturally sensitive transition model called the Butterfly Model (BM). 2) To design and implement at the European level an online learning program based on the BM for staff in ECEC institutions. 3)To identify new, flexible and culturally sensitive types of ECEC arrangements/institutions. << Implementation >>The project will implement the following: 1) A state-of-art of policy, best practice and extensive needs analysis that provides the basis for piloting the Butterfly Model 2) A pilot in 8 institutions in 3 countries – a participatory approach including all ECEC stakeholders 3) Design and use of an open access online learning program 4) Dissemination of project findings through website, inspiration materials, articles, webinars, conference etc. << Results >>The project will increase the quality in children in vulnerable situations transition from home to ECEC by:1) A culturally sensitive transition model: the Butterfly Model with min. 5 tools operational at EU ECEC level. 2) An open access online learning program based on the model’s scope and tools. This builds capacity - and improves the professionalisation of ECEC in the EU.3) Identification of new, flexible and culturally sensitive types of ECEC. Thus, enabling change and transformation.