The project offered expansion of further education for pedagogical staff for nursery and primary schools in the Central Bohemia Region. Pedagogical staff (PS) had an opportunity to deepen their knowledge in various educational areas or methods. Work with the CAN syndrome is not widely promoted, however.

That was why we offered this course to PS, which helped them to understand the CAN syndrome and different issues connected to it and to clarify their competences in the case of occurrence in class. The course was divided into a distance learning part (e-learning) and an attendance part (two-day practice of communication with children and analysis of case studies). Another activity was in the form of supervision meetings for PS, which had a supporting and reflecting effect on the PS work with the CAN syndrome.

Teaching and all the work connected to the teacher profession is one of the most demanding and meritorious jobs. A good teacher must also be a part psychologist to notice changes in children’s behaviour. A regular teacher does not have time to watch noticeable or subtle changes in every child and even less time to talk about them. However, this is also part of the job, which was why we came up with a course which:

• helped teachers to detect the CAN (Child Abuse and Neglect) syndrome and to orient themselves in children’s behavioural changes compared to normal development,
• offered a rough working procedure in the case of CAN syndrome suspicion through theory and communication practice in exemplary situations and their solutions,
• advised how to communicate with parents or caring persons,
• advised how to communicate with the class in the case of a suspicion of CAN syndrome or its proving,
• explained teacher competences,
• explained principles of mandatory reporting.

Conclusions and application of outcomes:

The whole project was guaranteed by Mgr. Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková, former deputy of the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports and head of the Department of Social and Legal Protection of Children at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic. In the beginning, the project applied for accreditation as further education for pedagogical staff and it was approved. Participants who finished the course attended two supervision meetings led by a supervisor and a supervising psychologist. The Jan Amos Komensky University was the project partner.

Outputs:

What to do if a child is at risk of CAN syndrome – card for teachers (download pdf in Czech)

Project team: Radka Dydňanská, Klára Kováčová