What is the IEP
An Individualized Education Plan (or programme) is also known as an IEP. This is a plan or programme developed to ensure that a child with an identified disability or learning disorder receives specialized instruction and related services.
The IEP, therefore, is the tool for inclusive teaching: a personalized plan that promotes the scholastic inclusion of students with difficulties in all phases of the educational programme – from nursery school to secondary school. The main objective of the IEP is to provide these pupils with learning and development support that takes into account their specific needs and abilities.
Furthermore, the IEP is a fundamental tool that connects schools and families, and any health professionals involved.
What is indicated in the IEP:
IEP and Erickson… in Italy
With law 104 of 1992, the IEP began to play a key role within the school world. But it is with the Ministerial Decree of 2020 and the related Guidelines that the single national IEP model was introduced, and then updated with an Inter Ministerial Decree in 2023.
For years Erickson has been responsible for drafting the most complete and up-to-date materials to compile the national IEP model, and is therefore a point of reference for all teachers working in Italian schools. The Erickson volumes dedicated to the IEP constitute a complete work programme for all school levels. In Italy they have sold over 80,000 copies.
The key concepts of the IEP
BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL MODEL
The IEP deals with the well-being of the student in all areas: physical, psychological and social.
OWG
The Operational Working Group on inclusion, made up of the class council, manager, external experts from the healthcare world, parents and students.
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
With a view to school-family educational alliance and sharing of the educational programme.
LIFE-ADULTITY PROJECT
Looking at the student from a broader perspective, towards a horizon that outlines their adult life.
ERICKSON EDITORIAL PROPOSALS FOR TEACHERS
Building the IEP
The instructions for completing the sections required by the new IEP model
IEP in practice
Materials and concrete examples of activities to set up educational and didactic interventions in the class
Inclusive IEP
Practical activities to integrate the IEP with the subjects
The guide to building an effective and inclusive IEP
IEP and inclusive classroom – What to do and what to avoid – For all school grades
Quick Guide for Teachers
Dario Ianes, Sofia Cramerotti, Flavio Fogarolo, Benedetta Zagni
In the style of a Teacher Training notebook, this book – suitable for all school levels – proposes 15 operational strategies for building an inclusive IEP and class.
The first part is divided into 3 sections in which the fundamental points of a truly inclusive IEP integrated with class activities are outlined. The second part reflects on the educational co-responsibility between all parties of the Operational Working Group (OWG), and on giving ‘the pupil a voice’. While the third part outlines the features of an inclusive didactics based on forms of co-teaching between curricular and support teachers, and the activation of cooperative learning and peer tutoring.
Building the new IEP for nursery school
Observation tools, guide cards and examples of completed sections
Dario Ianes, Sofia Cramerotti, Flavio Fogarolo
Building the new IEP for primary school
Observation tools, guide cards and examples of completed sections
Dario Ianes, Sofia Cramerotti, Flavio Fogarolo
Building the new IEP at lower secondary school
Observation tools, guide cards and examples of completed sections
Dario Ianes, Sofia Cramerotti, Flavio Fogarolo
Building the new IEP at secondary school
Observation tools, guide cards and examples of completed sections
Dario Ianes, Sofia Cramerotti, Flavio Fogarolo
IEP in practice in nursery school
Operational materials and activity proposals
Dario Ianes, Sofia Cramerotti, Flavio Fogarolo
IEP in practice in nursery school
Operational materials and activity proposals
Dario Ianes, Sofia Cramerotti, Flavio Fogarolo
Building the new IEP at lower secondary school
Operational materials and activity proposals
Dario Ianes, Sofia Cramerotti, Flavio Fogarolo
Building the new IEP at lower secondary school
Operational materials and activity proposals
Dario Ianes, Sofia Cramerotti, Flavio Fogarolo
Inclusive IEP at nursery school
Pair/group activities to integrate the fields of experience with the four dimensions of the IEP
Sofia Cramerotti, Dario Ianes, Flavio Fogarolo, Benedetta Zagni
Inclusive IEP at primary school
Pair/group activities to integrate the fields of experience with the four dimensions of the IEP
Sofia Cramerotti, Dario Ianes, Flavio Fogarolo, Benedetta Zagni
Inclusive IEP at lower secondary school
Pair/group activities to integrate the fields of experience with the four dimensions of the IEP
Sofia Cramerotti, Dario Ianes, Flavio Fogarolo, Benedetta Zagni
150 pages of activities to complete for 10 different subjects
1 token economy poster for the class
Each activity offers a sheet to guide the teacher in the operational proposal
and one or more cards to be provided to students
5 plance di gioco
4 pages of stickers to put on the cards
The work team dedicated to the IEP
Sofia Cramerotti. Educational psychologist and pedagogist. For the Erickson Study Center she is responsible for the «Research and Development – Psychoeducational and didactic section». Author of various articles and books, she deals with individualized educational programmeming and Teacher Education. She carries out training, university teaching and consultancy activities on psycho-pedagogical and educational-didactic issues.
Dario Ianes. Full professor of inclusion pedagogy at the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Free University of Bolzano-Bozen and co-founder of the Erickson Study Center of Trento.
Flavio Fogarolo. Trainer, he deals with inclusive teaching. For several years he was the contact person for disability and SLD at the UST of Vicenza. He collaborates with Edizioni Centro Studi Erickson, and is the author of various publications on the design of educational games and compensatory materials.
Benedetta Zagni. Developmental and Educational Psychologist. Trainer and doctoral student in Psychological Sciences (DPSS – University of Padua) in collaboration with the Erickson Study Center. She deals with emotional well-being at school, cooperative learning, recognition and valorization of differences in the classroom.