Jobshadowing trip to Girona, Spain
2nd till 7th of February 2026
Written by: Sjanne Schurer and Suzanne van der Linden
Teachers at: OBS De Plantage in Houten (Netherlands)
Visited school: Escola Pericot
Our visit
The director, Marta, and the teachers made us feel very welcome from the very beginning. The school prepared a schedule for us, allowing us to observe different classes and find answers to the questions outlined in our learning agreement.
We were given a tour of the school and the director, together with two teachers, provided a presentation especially for us. During the presentation, we had the opportunity to ask many questions.
Throughout the week, we were welcomed into various classrooms. The staff reviewed our learning agreement and arranged for us to attend lessons that closely matched our learning objectives.
It was inspiring to see the teachers’ dedication to achieving the best possible outcomes and ensuring that every student feels safe and valued.
Inclusion
Most of the time, two teachers are present in the classroom. Teachers also support other classes when their own class has lessons such as music or physical education. During these moments, students with special educational needs can receive additional attention and support.
There is, however, a specialized classroom available every day for children with special needs. Students can go there when participation in the regular classroom becomes too challenging; this mainly applies to children with difficulties such as autism or ADHD. Some children spend a larger part of the day in this classroom, but the overall goal remains for all students to participate in the regular group as much as possible.
We were able to observe this class, called Cabanya, in the morning. At that time, seven children of different ages were present. In addition to the specialized teacher, there were two support staff members. It was clear that these children require a great deal of attention and guidance. The atmosphere was safe and well-structured. The teacher was highly attentive and focused on the children, who clearly benefited from her support.
Sustainability
Recycling bins for separating waste were placed throughout the school.
The outdoor lesson we observed also focused on sustainability. For example, the children learned about different plants and how to create a compost heap. We also attended a lesson in which the children were working with recycled materials.
Across all subjects, we noticed how proud the Catalans are of their culture and their surroundings, which we truly appreciated. We learned that this pride can be reflected in many different ways, such as teaching a nature lesson outdoors or creating a map featuring local activities specifically designed for children.