This report evaluates the innovative pilot programme offering psychosocial support for Ukrainian students at selected primary schools in Bratislava. The programme, developed by the Center for Inclusive Education (Inklucentrum) in collaboration with the Counseling and Prevention Center Bratislava III (CPP Bratislava III), features a specialised support team for those from Ukraine. It was designed around multiple analyses conducted by the Centre for Educational Analyses (CVA) since the onset of the war in Ukraine, with specific focus on an in-depth qualitative survey of 9 Bratislava primary schools.

The programme addresses the immediate needs of schools and Ukrainian children, directly responding to the findings of these analyses. This evaluation highlights potential risks and areas for improvement in practice, and insights gained may also guide the state or other organisations in introducing similar programmes elsewhere, particularly in order to promote the integration of vulnerable student groups.

The regional outreach team, established in January 2023 by Inklucentrum and CPP Bratislava III, was created in response to the influx of Ukrainian children to Slovakia as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The outreach team regularly visits schools with many Ukrainian students in order to provide psychosocial support, to assist school staff with the integration process, and to facilitate communication with parents.

Given the novelty of its approach, the programme’s quality and effectiveness must be evaluated to ensure its sustainability and potential for expansion. The evaluation report's key findings include the following:

• The majority of respondents viewed the initiative positively and expressed a desire for it to continue in the next school year.
• Closer collaboration between parents, school staff, and outreach workers is recommended, in order to strengthen the programme’s ties to the school community.
• According to respondents, outreach workers alone cannot fully ensure the quality education of Ukrainian children in schools.

Overall, the evaluations from Ukrainian children, their parents, and school staff indicate that the outreach workers are a welcomed and valuable addition to school communities. To further enhance the programme, concludes the report, adjustments in communication between the outreach team, school personnel, and parents would be beneficial.

Source: Inklucentrum, 2024.