Where do I start, when blogging about the Reggio Emilia approach? I had the pure joy of visiting the small town of Reggio Emilia in the province of Northern Italy, to attend the International Study Group held at Loris Malaguzzi International Centre in 2014.
This year I visited a service in the Central West of New South Wales. You can imagine my happiness when I walked into the space feeling like I was entering a Reggio Emila service instead.
So what is the Reggio Emilia approach? The services and schools started as a parent and community initiative, and were supported by the educator Loris Malaguzzi. The vision was that the services would provide a secure space for children, where they would be treated with respect and inclusiveness. It was also highly encouraged that parents and the community would be active participants in the way their children were educated and how they learned.
The main values of the Reggio Emilia approach include;
– Children are encouraged to be independent learners, who problem solve for themselves.
– Children learn through collaboration with other children, educators, parents and the community.
– The environment is set up to provide aesthetic spaces and materials for children to explore.
– Educators document and observe children’s learning by open-ended questioning and through exploration of the children’s thoughts and ideas.
Therefore, you can see how relevant the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) is, when it includes the following outcomes;
– Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity
– Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world
– Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
– Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners
– Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators
Embrace the Reggio Emilia approach, and never stop learning.
If you would like more information on the Reggio Emilia approach and practices, please contact e: [email protected] to register for a workshop, webinar and/or in-service.
You can also visit the website and blog at www.joinspireme.com