World of Learning - international links

Most people would find it difficult to reflect on the similarities and differences between the Italian Alps, the forests of Denmark and an English fishing port. But the children of Nunsthorpe Nursery School in Grimsby are making a start on just such an ambitious undertaking. They have been visiting their local beaches, taking photographs and collecting samples to send to Italian children at Gressony and Cervinia Schools, and Danish children at Sinderholme School.

Children from all four schools are exploring their local waterways and exchanging information with each other by sending pictures, e-mails and lots of models and artefacts. It is all part of an innovative European Community programme for international school links.
Nunsthorpe headteacher Pat Cormack is full of enthusiasm as she tells me about how they hosted a week-long visit for practitioners from the three other schools. 'It was exciting for our children when the adults came in and used Danish and Italian in the nursery. On the first night our whole staff group took them out for a typically English meal, and we had lots of debates about our different approaches.'