Welcome to the 4^th FIESTA newsletter we started Fiesta over two years ago and a lot has happened since. We are happy to inform you that our Best Practice (BP) Report, which is the product of our extensive research program, has been completed. Training modules and online storytelling videos have been developed based on knowledge from this BP report. Next to that, an online community and discussion forum is available on the Fiesta website for professionals and parents to pose their questions to and get answers from the network. Furthermore, a lot of preparational work has been done for the Fiesta final conference in Barcelona, Spain on the 4th of October, where we hope to meet you all and share findings, experiences and outcomes of our Fiesta project on transition of children with special educational needs. Find out about all these topics in this newsletter!

1. To examine examples of Best Practice identification of children with additional support requirements who transitioned into first year of mainstream primary school from either a specialized environment or a mainstream early years environment and to pinpoint examples of Best Practice identification of children with additional support requirements who transitioned from mainstream primary to mainstream secondary school.
2. To identify Best Practice through using a mixed methods approach where children and families along with a wide range of professionals will be asked to participate in this research.

The report utilises both quantitative and qualitative data from children and parents, education, health and social work professionals. The quantitative data was derived from an online questionnaire and generated 578 individual returns. The qualitative data was generated from professional focus groups where 173 professionals participated and 34 individual parent and child interviews.

The purpose of the Training Modules is to provide practical tools to be used by schools and educational institutions for collaborative working and facilitation of pupils through transition. The training modules provide three professional development resources for professionals within education, health and social sectors. These resources were adapted to suit the needs of other target groups also, such as parents, pupils, policy makers.

Training for education, health and social services professionals include:

• understanding each other’s ethos, environment and methods of working,
• the skills required for collaborative working, and
• information for teachers and other educational professionals on disability and therapeutic programmes and for health professionals’ information on the curriculum.

FIESTA partners have captured professionals', parents' and children's experiences and perspectives on transition and inclusion. Stakeholders participated in a number of videos, the videos share individual local stories. The videos range from professional expertise on collaborative working, transition and inclusion. Parents explain their decision-making process during the transition period. Other stakeholders share their experiences of using the FIESTA self assessment tool. To view the wide range of stories from our stakeholders please review the FIESTA YouTube channel.

Conference date: Saturday 4th October, 2014
Location: Casa del Mar, C/ Albareda, 1-13 Barcelona (view map)

The second FIESTA conference will take place on the 4th of October 2014 in La Casa del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. The conference will focus on the outcomes of the FIESTA network developed in order to facilitate children with special educational needs during periods of transition. It will be of particular interest to: Teachers, Principals, Parents Educational psychologists, Guidance counsellors, Social support staff, Researchers, and health professionals. The participants will have the opportunity to listen to one of the best referents about inclusive education: "Pere Pujolàs", professor at the Faculty of Education at the University of Vic (Catalonia, Spain). The participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences through a variety of workshops related to: "Self assessment for teachers", "Parents participation in transition", "Universal design for learning in the classroom" and "Supporting transition through collaborative working". Attendance at the conference will provide participants with the opportunity to network and exchange key learning experiences and to develop practical skills in facilitating transition for children with special educational needs.

Registration with further details is available via the Fiesta website. If you require further information contact kmcmahon@enableireland.ie, FIESTA Coordinator or/and Spanish Local Coordinator in Catalonia: mamat2@xtec.cat.

Contact project manager Kate McMahon: kmcmahon@enableireland.ie 
Website: www.fiesta-project.eu