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Vanessa Callan, our
Director, has recently
returned from a trip to
Italy.
She was chosen, as one
of only 8 Early Years
Representatives from
Essex, to attend an
International conference
and study group, hosting
400 representatives from
28 different countries.
Vanessa visited The
Reggio Emilia area, its
schools and
educationalists. As part
of this, Vanessa has
brought back ideas,
insights and some of the
best principles, to
merge with the
Montessori and Early
Years Foundation Stage
curriculum we currently
use.
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The
Philosophy of the Reggio Approach
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The city of Reggio
Emilia in Italy is
recognised worldwide for
its innovative approach
to education. Its
signature philosophy has
become known as the
Reggio Emilia Approach.
It is based on the
following principles -
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Children must have some
control over the
direction of their
learning;
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children must be able to
learn through
experiences of touching,
moving, listening,
seeing and hearing;
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children have a
relationship with other
children and with
material items in the
world that children must
be allowed to explore
and
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children must have
endless ways and
opportunities to express
themselves.
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The Reggio schools place
importance on listening
to children; listening
to every nuance of their
communication. The
teachers observe, take
photos, scribe and
document their day and
the learning processes
the children go through.
The interests of the
child are then used and
developed by the
teacher, to plan and
fuel a genuine desire to
learn on the part of the
child.
The nurseries within
Reggio are beautiful
huge buildings, much on
the scale of our primary
schools. Although we can
only aspire to the
beauty, size and
architecture, we are
developing our nursery
and incorporating
elements that fit with
our setting, children
and culture.
So far, in the short
time since Vanessa has
returned, we have
developed our art room,
our free-play room and
the materials we use.
The children are able to
use innovative 'light
boxes' to create
collages and paint
detailed drawings. They
use clay to develop
their ideas and express
themselves. The children
have access to more
natural materials such
as large pebbles and
logs; to create and
explore.
It is our intention to
provide the children
with resources they need
to grow and develop all
aspects of their
learning. This is
exciting and innovative,
and both staff and
children are buzzing
with the excitement of
this growing involvement
in learning .
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Our Nursery is within easy travelling
distance of the following places:
Bishops Stortford, Takeley, Stansted,
Elsenham, Great Dunmow, Canfield, Henham, Harlow, Quendon, Clavering, Saffron
Walden, Mole Hill Green, Birchanger, Thaxted, Ashdon, Debden, Debden Green,
Newport,
Links
Sheepskin Baby Fleece
www.saffronwalden.gov.uk
http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/cha.jsp?channelOid=14657
www.locallife.co.uk/uttlesford/
www.childcaredirectory.co.uk/ towns/essex/childcare-saffron-walden.htm
www.saffronwalden-reporter.co.uk/
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