[October 2023]
When the autumn leaves were turning gold back home in Ireland, Early Learning & Care teacher Anna Gacquin packed her notebook and curiosity for a week-long Erasmus+ adventure in northern Italy. From 22nd – 27th October 2023 she immersed herself in a job-shadowing mobility hosted by Mistral Società Cooperativa Sociale Onlus in the historic city of Brescia, Italy. The visit was arranged through the City of Dublin ETB and underpinned by a detailed learning agreement that charted clear goals for professional growth.
Why Brescia? Why Job-Shadowing?
City of Dublin ETBs Further Education & Training colleges are steadily widening their international lens, and Anna’s mobility was designed to push that focus even further.
Four ambitious outcomes were set for the mobility, including:
- Deepening expertise in alternative pedagogies—specifically the Reggio Emilia and Waldorf approaches.
- Exploring innovative supports for inclusion, such as pet therapy for children with additional needs.
- Seeing sustainability in action by observing environmental and science activities in preschools.
- Becoming an Erasmus+ ambassador, ready to motivate colleagues and ultimately pave the way for future student mobilities.
A Week Rich in Insight
Reggio & Waldorf in practice
Two Reggio-inspired centres and one Waldorf kindergarten opened their doors to Anna. From child-led ateliers bursting with recycled materials to rhythmic circle-times lit by beeswax candles, she saw how carefully designed environments nurture agency, wonder and collaboration.
The healing paws of pedagogy
Mid-week, Anna shadowed educators who integrate pet-assisted activities into daily routines for children with additional needs. Watching the calming effect of a gentle dog during a language session provided concrete strategies she hopes to adapt for Irish settings.
Learning outdoors, learning always
At an environmental centre on the edge of Lake Garda, Anna joined a group of four-year-olds constructing mini-weather stations and experimenting with water wheels. The visit crystallised the power of place-based science and reinforced City of Dublin ETBs drive to embed sustainability across curricula.
Professional Impact
Back in Dublin, Anna is already:
- Sharing best-practice snapshots through lunchtime seminars who teach Early Learning & Care.
- Integrating acquired pedagogical practice into her own classroom.
- Insight for Facilities upgrades was also an essential focus of Anna’s on her return.
Looking Ahead
Anna’s week in Brescia proves that meaningful professional development happens when teachers step beyond familiar walls, observe with intent and return ready to act. As City of Dublin ETB continues to forge new partnerships, stories like Anna’s show how international collaboration can enrich local classrooms—and, ultimately, the lives of the children who learn within them.
