hypothesis on the point of view of a very small Composgnathus dinoasaur: Mohamed, 8 years

"A school where experience, the doing of body and hands and thinking come together; a school as a learning "workshop", where creativity and the aesthetic dimension become essential qualities of knowledge."

During our recent Skylight research group visit to Reggio, we visited the Malaguzzi Centre Primary School, to explore how their pedagogy is evolving, and were drawn to a new publication of theirs which throws a great light on their experience. We think that it is really fascinating, and gives a lively insight into the work and life of this primary school, its children and educators.It is an ideal reader if you are planning to attend a Study Week in Reggio, as you are likely to have the chance to see inside this school, and will really help you understand what's going on. 

Usually, it is only  available to visitors to the school, but by arrangement we will be able to order copies. Here is a review of the book, kindly written by Chris Merrick, and at the close of this article is what to do if you want to order the book.

 The 2017 Skylight group's focus week in Reggio Emilia was now two weeks ago, and the group are now finding their feet again after a very intense study with our Reggiane colleagues. 

This group, for educators in settings who have been to Reggio before, are working positively on their professional practice and want the opportunity to enable themselves and their settings to become more skilful and courageous in their work of creating a listening pedagogy.

We're now into our third and 'what's next?' phase, working in individual setting, but with new shared understandings and intents on how we construct our classrooms, listen to our children's ideas and offer appropriate challenges. 

If you are interested in joining a new Skylight group, do get in touch to register your interest.  On Wed 5th December 2017 we're hosting an Erasmus funding session for applicants, and this is a tight deadline - email the office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)  if you want to participate in this funding advice session.

Would you like to read more about the week? Christine Merrick has written a daily diary of our week in Reggio ... read on:

Here is notice of a  free half-day conference at the IOE which may be of interest to Sightlines members: 'Early Childhood Education and Care: Alternative Perspectives, New Debates' on Wednesday 13th December. Peter Moss will be speaking and there are workshops on a range of different topics. 

"Early childhood policy and practice in England is under pressure. It is dominated by an instrumental, economistic and positivistic narrative, expressed in a vocabulary of learning goals, school readiness, baseline assessment, investment and returns, and markets. At this afternoon event, to which you are warmly invited, we will debate alternative narratives with eminent researchers who offer different perspectives on how early childhood might be. Sessions offer opportunities to hear about and contribute to critical issues and themes such as participation, the impact of the market on access, international development, and measurement. Organised by the Thomas Coram Research Unit, the event promises to be a rich afternoon that will be followed by the launch of an important new book, 'The SAGE Handbook of Early Childhood Policy' where Professor Jane Payler (The Open University) will provide a short introduction."

More details and registration here.