Skills in science are becoming an increasingly important part of basic literacy in today’s knowledge economy. To keep Europe growing, there is strong need of science-aware citizens who can make informed decisions and develop critical thinking. As confirmed by numerous EU education policy strategies and research analysis, motivation should be fostered among young people in early education, as missing this opportunity leads to many interrelated challenges occurring at later stage of life, such as: underachievement in basic skills, low interest towards science-related further education and career choices, gap between the current technology-based labour market and existing competencies. The teacher is the key factor in this process. Reportedly, most teachers lack confidence to deliver science-related subjects at primary school level due to lack of resources, ideas on how to motivate learners, as well as specifics of the curriculum and syllabus. Since October 2016, the publishing house Dr. Josef Raabe Slovensko based in Bratislava started implementing the transnational project Interactive Science for Kids and Youngsters in Primary Education (I - S.K.Y.P.E.) to support primary school teachers with interactive and innovative teaching methods, resources and skills to increase kids’ and youngsters’ attainment and motivation levels in the field of science-related subjects. Our project put together 7 relevant organisations from 3 different countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic and Germany), namely 3 primary schools, 2 renowned universities, a company offering innovative digital solutions to the education sector, as well as one of the leading education materials publishing houses.The main aims of the project were to support primary education teachers in science-related subjects through innovative materials, tools fostering interactive learning, opportunity to share examples of good practices within Europe, as well as structured policy reforms proposals based on evidence achieved throughout the project lifetime.More than 5 500 pupils of the primary education, teachers of science-related subjects, people involved and interested in education, policy makers and academics participated in different project activities: creation of the outputs, their testing, validation, demonstration of them at workshops, targeted dissemination and the direct use of outputs in school practice. The project duration was 33 months and it will be followed by additional activities to ensure sustainability of results after its end.The project I – S.K.Y.P.E. covered the following activities and outputs:•design, development, testing and validation of I – S.K.Y.P.E. Methodical Handbook for Teachers of science-related subjects in primary education;•production of practical I- S.K.Y.P.E. Workshops for Teachers based on created methodical materials and their testing at schools, production of the videos from them;•design, development, testing and launch of the I – S.K.Y.P.E. Online platform which contains created methodical materials in digital form, workshops for teachers and also videos from chosen activities in 4 language versions – this will enable to use and sustain the project outputs in the future;•development of the concept for policy reform and curricula update based on knowledge and experiences gained during the process of the development of project intellectual outputs; •organisation of the final dissemination I – S.K.Y.P.E. conference for local and international participants and stakeholders where we presented created intellectual outputs to the public.Project impact and longer term benefits:TARGET GROUPS:*Teachers:- improved skills and competencies to teach science-related subjects;- enhanced capacity to offer interactive ways of learning;- raised professional profile of teacher;*Pupils: - increased attainment level in basic science skills;- enhanced critical thinking competencies and motivation for participating actively in the learning process;- higher inspiration to pursue science-oriented further education and subsequently career orientation;*High-level policy makers:- increased awareness of importance to innovate science-related subjects curricula and sylabus at primary school level;- increased knowledge on how to address pressing needs of the sector by introducing changes to traditional methods of teaching science-related subjects;OTHER STAKEHOLDERS:- increased level of cooperation between various sectors of education and training;- awareness of the inter-relation between science and all other basic skills;PROJECT PARTNERS:- strengthened reputation among the education sector through providing free innovative materials, methods and platform;- influencing the policy context to address a concrete challenge and potential for exploring new markets and expanding current activities.

In accordance with the conclusions of the Council of the EU, the importance of preschool education (ECEC) grows especially thanks to its major effect on the personal development of children and on the elimination of socio-economic differences. Teachers in preschool institutions work in heterogeneous classes including even the children with special educational needs (SEN). Kindergartens strive to meet the goals of inclusive education, i.e. to offer support to every child in achieving their highest level of education while respecting their individual educational needs. The teacher plays a key role in the ECEC. Professional development of the teacher as well as acquiring new methods, including digital ones, thus contribute to the satisfaction of potentially very diverse needs of each and every child. Inclusive education brings benefits not only to the child with SEN, but also to the whole group: besides the enhancement of teaching methods, it has positive effects on social learning of children, teaching them to respect diversity and differencies.The project WE Learn and COMmunicate Ensemble (WELCOME) brought together 8 organisations from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria. The main aim of this project was to fully integrate children with SEN. In this regard, new instruments to improve the theoretical background and the enhancement of teacher´s competences were introduced seeking synergy between educational, research and innovative components. Such synergy should be reflected in the overall improved quality of early education. This project lasting in total 33 months is being followed by further activities ensuring the sustainability of its outcomes. Specific objectives of the project:•creation and testing of a teachers´ guide targeting the best attitude towards children with SEN;•development of an application for smart devices connecting theory with practice and innovatively enabling the teacher to prepare a scale of educational activities to fit every child; •scheme, development and testing of interactive workshops helping teachers to better adjust to the work with heterogeneous group in kindergartens based on the major outcomes of the project.In total 8 institutions participated in this project: 1 organisation from school education area, 1 university, 2 scientific institutions, 3 kindergartens and 1 company providing the technical support. This diverse partnership allowed for a proposal, development, testing and dissemination of the outcomes of the project thanks to the international cooperation. The outputs are clear, mutually coherent and universally applicable in all countries involved.The main activities within this project were proposals, development, testing, finalisation and productional side of the project outcomes (translations, typesetting, expert revisions, print etc.). Furthermore, 4 international meetings, 3 focus froups, 9 workshops, 1 international dissemination activity and other broad dissemination activities were organised.Major outputs of the project:METHODOLOGY FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN WITH SEN IN PRESCHOOL EDUCATION – designed for teachers of kindergartens offering new inspiration and suggestions for working with children with SEN WELCOME IDEA APPLICATION (INTERACTIVE DIGITAL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTENT) – an application for smart devices serving as an assistant for teacher to evaluate child´s current stage in particular spheres of development. On the basis thereof, the application recommends set of activities as well as other tips for working in heterogeneous group and with children with SEN.WORKING WITH AND SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SEN IN ECEC (WELCOME WORKSHOPS) – a teachers´guide on how to organise and lead workshops dealing with thematic units while using the WELCOME IDEA app. Concrete scenarios will help teachers use the app. in practice and introduce a really individualised and differentiated attitude in education so as to support the development of every child, their self-reliance and cooperation with other children to the highest extent.Main achievements and effects of the project on the target groups:TEACHERS•spreading of methods, applied tools and methodical materials; fostering the theoretical background, competences and skills for working with heterogeneous group and with children with SEN;professional development thanks to new technologies; sharing inspiration for everyday work with children with SEN, developing skills within the inclusive education; better identification of the educational offer, thus reaching individualisation within the educational process. CHILDREN•better integration within the regular preschool class; child´s development especially in the deficient areas;heightening the child´s incentive to learn, giving them the chance to experience success while being in a regular class; improved communication with parents enabling to work with the child even in their home environment which is then reflected in their better development.

The main reason for carrying out the STARS project was that in the 21st century, it is essential to improve scientific and technical skills and strengthen competitiveness in Europe, which can only be achieved if the country has a sufficiently educated population. According to surveys, primary school pupils are insufficiently educated in science subjects, they lack interdisciplinary skills. In order to acquire relevant knowledge, it is very important that they learn in a conceptual structure, make observations, cooperate and make the most of current technological progress. At the same time, astronomy is included in science education only very marginally, and teachers often do not have sufficient knowledge, skills and methods to teach astronomy in an innovative way.For this reason, EXPOL PEDAGOGIKA s.r.o., the publishing house of textbooks for primary and secondary schools, has started to implement the international project STARS (Successfully Teaching AstRonomy in Schools) since 1 November 2017, the main goal of which is to support primary school teachers in teaching astronomy.The project brought together 7 organisations from Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, namely 3 schools, 1 renowned university, 1 non-governmental organisation focused on astronomy, a company creating innovative digital solutions in the school sector and a leading publisher of professional literature.The project focused on:•equipping teachers teaching at lower secondary education with innovative methods, knowledge, competencies and tools for teaching astronomy within the curriculum,•creating a training program for teaching astronomy, as ready to use educational tool for teacher training providers (e. g. universities, continuing education providers, observatories, astronomical associations, but also as a tool of self-development for individual use, etc.),• creating a concept of a new educational program for teaching astronomy, which reflects current trends and attitudes of pupils towards the modern teaching process,• supporting critical thinking, analytical and abstract perception in order to increase the level of knowledge acquisition by pupils, as well as the acquisition of relevant knowledge,•equipping the target groups of the project with freely available, language-relevant and high-quality educational resources for teaching astronomy.More than 3600 primary school pupils, science teachers, people involved in education, policy makers, academics and parents participated in various project activities: in the creation of outputs, their testing, validation, demonstration during workshops, targeted dissemination and their use in practice. The project lasted 34 months and further dissemination activities after its completion will ensure its sustainability.As part of the project, we implemented the following activities and outputs:- we designed, developed, tested and validated: STARS Methodical Handbook for Teachers: a handbook for lower secondary teachers teaching subjects involving astronomy; STARS Training Program for Teachers: offers an innovative and comprehensive approach to improving teachers' practical skills and providing them with further in-service training;-we designed, created, tested and launched the STARS Online Platform, which contains created outputs in digital form, which will enable the use and sustainability of project outputs in the future;-we created the STARS Concept for Astronomy Education Program, which provides ideas on how astronomical topics can be presented in a better way in terms of curriculum to pupils in the higher classes of primary schools;-we organised an online STARS dissemination conference for local and foreign participants, where we presented the outputs to the general public.All outputs are in 4 language versions – Slovak, Czech, Bulgarian and English.TARGET GROUPS: Teachers:- improving the knowledge, skills and competences of learning subjects related to astronomy,- increasing the capacity to offer interactive teaching methods and skills to motivate students to take an interest in science and especially astronomy.Pupils:- an inspiration to pursue the studies of astronomy in the future, - expanding the competencies of critical thinking and motivation to actively participate in the teaching process,- gaining relevant knowledge of astronomy.Politically active persons:- improving the ability to make decisions based on real needs and innovating curricula and curricula to meet the needs of modern societyOTHER STAKEHOLDERS:- gaining awareness of the close relationship between science and other basic skills,- directors: supporting and creating an environment for education in astronomy,- parents: supporting the child's interest in astronomy.PROJECT PARTNERS:- improving the capacity to cooperate at transnational level,- strengthening the reputation of the education sector through the creation of freely available innovative materials and platforms.