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The Health and Citizenship Education Committee involves all members of the educational community and the local partners of the primary or secondary school (local government, police, justice and associations). Chaired by the school head, the committee is active in citizenship education, drawing up the plan for the prevention of violence, proposing initiatives to support parents in difficult situations and combating social exclusion, defining a health and sex education programme aimed at promoting safe behaviour. The CESC brings together a variety of measures, with the aim of preparing pupils to act and to live together, with respect for equality between women and men and to make choices and exercise their citizenship rights.

The POTHOLES initiative is an excellent example of schools in Ireland reaching out to marginalised families beyond the traditional, formal methods of participation. The POTHOLES initiative was formed in January 2011 with the aim of helping parents of different background and cultures to meet with other parents from their own school and similar schools and share experiences. A key aim is to engage parents who perhaps may feel isolated or unfamiliar with the school system, involve them more closely in the school activities and decisions, and to introduce them to a range of learning opportunities.

The 'Guide for Roma school mediators/assistants', prepared by the Council of Europe, is aimed primarily at all categories of staff from the Roma community working to improve schooling conditions for Roma children. It is intended to provide staff with wide ranging tools and practical guidelines that can be adapted to different contexts. The guide considers the profiles of school mediators and assistants and their role in facilitating relations between the school and the Roma community(ies), between teachers and other school staff and parents of Roma children. The guides content is therefore designed to help improve the work of Roma school mediators and assistants and reduce the impact of any undesirable effects by providing structured day-to-day activity and highlighting aspects of mediation that are often not used in practice.

The 'Guide for working with Roma Families towards achieving the success of their children at school', developed in the context of the Lifelong ������Ƶing Programme project "Roma Families Get Involved", is available in English as well as in the languages of the countries taking part in the project (Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Spain). The Guide aims to provide guidance for professionals working on the ground to involve Roma families in the educational processes of their children. It presents a methodological tool for the intervention with Roma families in the school setting and proposes actions to overcome common obstacles, examples of good practices, warnings and things to avoid. It also explores the profile and competences for professionals working in the field.

"It is clear from the Irish experience that educational initiatives based in schools can raise the educational level of the adults involved, and result in a general sense of empowerment in the local community. Parental involvement, especially in areas of socio-economic deprivation, does not just benefit the children and the school - it is a crucial aspect of lifelong learning" (Parents as Partners in Schooling, OECD 1997)

KiVa is a research-based antibullying program that has been developed in the University of Turku, Finland, with funding from the Finish Ministry of Education and Culture. The effectiveness of KiVa has been shown in a large randomized controlled trial. In Finland, KiVa is a sought-after program: 90 % of all comprehensive schools in the country are registered KiVa schools implementing the program. Currently, KiVa has licensed partners in Belgium, Estonia, Luxembourg (the European School network), the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (the regions of Wales, West Midlands, North East, North West as well as Yorkshire and Humbert). The program is being or has been evaluated in Estonia, Greece, Italy, South Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands, UK and the US.

Study halls (Tanoda) were established with support of EU funds in Hungary in the 1990's, with the objective to provide support to disadvantaged and Roma students. Study halls offer a comprehensive range of services to support young people, with learning at the centre. The study halls provide learning support, rich extra-curricular programmes and extra support in other areas if needed. In the study hall pupils receive help with their homework, class work and develop their learning skills and sense of community.

The 'Inside and beyond the glass rooms' measure in Portugal aims to provide activities at grass route level to engage Roma children at pre-school level in school and to support their families. Activities are carried out in the open air - on the street so to speak. The idea is that there is an open and transparent link between the school, the children and their families. This measure is supported by a multi-disciplinary team of experts in partnership with the school.