News

Collaboration between the North East of England and Vilnius began in November 2014 when Mr. Mike Carter from TynCan Learning based in Gateshead hosted a European project for collaboration with Balsiai progymnasium. Mrs. Gintare Jurgaitiene, the Deputy Principal for primary education, spent a week observing Erasmus + KA1 project activities in different schools in the North East of England.

One of the areas of exploration was the concept of “Outdoor Learning” or the “Forest School.” . One of the schools she visited was St Mays RC Primary School in Sunderland and the Head Teacher Mrs Lucie Stephenson showed her the way the school had embraced the idea of “outdoor learning” and had begun to develop an area of the school land as a dedicated “Forest School “ area.

Mrs. Jurgaitiene returned to Lithuania and began the task of introducing the concept within her school. Mr. Carter from Tyncan L:earning coordinated the project organising several collaborative events between the two regions. Mr. Carter has given several recommendations and has shared different experiences in UK schools with Balsiai Progymnasium. in Vilnius

On 3rd December 2015 Mr. Carter came to Lithuania and visited Vilnius Balsiai Progymnasium where he observed lessons which had been organised outdoors. The class teacher Mrs. Silvija Kazakeviciene, a primary education teacher at the school, organised a series of lessons. Mrs. Kazakeviciene is one of the teachers in the school who has embraced the pedagogy behind “outdoor learning”. She has been a focus of good practice of the "Forest School” in primary classes under the direction of Mrs. Jurgaitiene.

The school was asked to take part in the inaugural Forum meeting held by the Municipality of Vilnius "Unique Educational Changes: School Experiences". This event brought together schools from the Vilnius area who presented their innovative ideas regarding ways to deliver an engaging curriculum for students and was attended by the Mayor of Vilnius..

Mrs. Loreta Kaciusyte Skramtai, the Principal of Vilnius Balsiai Progymnasium, gave a presentation and shared the experience about her school's successful European projects and about the successful organisation of the lessons outdoors. Mrs. Jurgaitiene, the Deputy Principal for primary education of Vilnius Balsiai Progymnasium and Mrs. Silvija Kazakaviciene, primary education teacher, also gave presentations highlighting the methods they used and the organisation of the curriculum around the ideas of the “Forest School”

Balsiai Progymnasium and TynCan Learning have forged a deep relationship which enables both teachers and students to develop understanding about each others culture and heritage. They recently submitted a project outline to collaborate through Basketball to enable young people in both countries to learn from each other and develop skills in basketball but also to develop social skills in different environments. This bid was unfortunately unsuccessful and TynCan Learning is now looking for commercial sponsorship to make this a reality.

Mike Carter 

Managing Director 

TynCan Learning