Reggio Study Week 2020

Sunday 15th - Friday 20th March 2020
Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, Reggio Emilia, Italy.

A one-week study visit to learn about and be inspired by the world renowned educational approach of the preschools and infant toddler centres of Reggio Emilia.

This course will explore the key principles underpinning the Reggio approach to early childhood education including:

- History and background
- Creativity and expressive languages of children
- The pedagogy of listening
- The environment as 'the third teacher'
- Parents as partners
- Democratic citizenship
- Children as the subjects of rights
- Children and educators as researchers
- Observation, interpretation, documentation
- Making learning visible
- Professional dialogue

You will receive our help and support before, during and after the study week.

Before - a simple booking process - you fill in the online application form, we confirm your place and keep you on track.  If you wish, we will book you a hotel room with one of our selected hotels (we've already negotiated a discounted bed and breakfast rate with them).  This also ensures you won't be alone as other group members will be staying in the same hotel as you.  Also, to make your travel as smooth as possible, we can arrange transfers both ways for you from Bologna airport to Reggio Emilia, dropping you off at one of our hotels on Saturday 14th April and Saturday 21st April respectively (additional cost applies). 

We will email you a welcome pack which includes information about the Reggio Experience and the organisation of the infant and toddler preschools, plus suggested reading and viewing material so you get the most out of your week. Plus nearer to the time, a programme of the week, a Reggio Emilia map and some useful Italian phrases to facilitate your time there.

Your setting may want to book a preliminary Skype briefing session with a Sightlines consultant ahead of your visit, at a discounted delegate's rate. We also recommend a guided preparation with your setting during the six months leading to the week, if you are planning this visit a part of strategic development.

During - Robin Duckett our MD will be in Reggio with the group for the duration of the week to help with any queries about getting around the town, participate in discussions and generally to ensure things are running smoothly. 

We start the week with group orientation meeting, led by Robin on Sunday morning then Sunday lunch (included) in the Malaguzzi Centre.  It's surprisingly hard to find somewhere to eat on a Sunday lunchtime in Reggio, and there is not much time before the first encounters at the Malaguzzi Centre.  

We hold further discussion groups through the week, just for our delegates, to assist your reflections.

After - three months' free membership to Sightlines' Community - be part of exchanges with like-minded educators, plus access to network resources ...

You'll also receive notes from the week, quotes, suggestions for your own next steps ...

The participation fee is £1,560. This fee covers all the above:

• Administration, advice and support before and during the week.
• Introductory Group Session a.m. Sunday 15 March, including lunch
• Hotel booking facilitation
• Guidance on developing your centre's practice
• Seminars, presentations, exhibits at the International Centre Loris Malaguzzi
• Visits to preschools and infant-toddler centres
• Bus transportation between schools (as necessary)
• Guided tour of the city
• UK discussion group opportunities
• Interpretation
• 6 lunches at the International Centre Sunday - Friday
• Lectures, presentations, exhibitions at the Malaguzzi centre
• 3 months' membership to Sightlines Initiative's Community

Please note: The fee does not include flights, accommodation or subsistence. 

Participation

We welcome applications from anyone working in the field of early childhood education and wanting to learn about Reggio's approach. There will be delegates from Canada in our custom group; this will provide wonderful opportunities for international exchanges.

We encourage participation of pairs, teams or groups as well as individuals.  As usual, we welcome international participation in our group.

There are a limited number of places; so book your place early. 

Once you've booked your place you will automatically be sent an invoice, attached to your booking confirmation email.  We will then be in touch within 7 days with further information including reading material and how to book your accommodation with us.

Travel arrangements

You will need to book your own flights. We recommend you fly to Bologna Airport.  Alternatively you could fly into Milan or Parma and travel from there by train to Reggio Emilia.

We will offer the opportunity for group taxi connections between Bologna airport and our hotels, on Saturday 14th March, and for returns on Saturday 21st March.

We advise that you are in Reggio Emilia by the eve of Saturday 14th March as we will have a UK group welcome meeting on the Sunday morning, followed by lunch, at the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre. We hope that Reggio Foundation volunteers will be able to conduct guided tours around the city during Sunday afternoon - we are awaiting confirmation. The programme with Reggio will begin on Monday morning, at the international Centre Loris Malaguzzi.  The programme will finish on Friday afternoon at around 4.30pm. We advise you to travel home on Saturday 21st March.

Accommodation

To facilitate your booking, we have reserved block bookings with selected hotels in Reggio Emilia: hotels chosen because of their amenities and also their location.  We like the group to be close so it's easier for us to meet up and keep in contact; it enhances group development.

You are of course, still free to make your own accommodation arrangements but our block bookings usually ensure the best possible rate. Seven night's hotel accommodation (arriving Saturday 14th March and checking out Saturday 21st March) costs approx £630 for a single room and approx £400 each if sharing a twin room.  All our rooms include a buffet breakfast in the room rate.

Venue

The event will take place at the purpose-built Loris Malaguzzi International centre on the outskirts of Reggio Emilia. This centre is within walking distance of our hotels.

More Information ...

Please ring us about anything in particular about preparation material and arranging for development work prior to the week itself (which we highly recommend, especially for settings anticipating systems development.)

For more information please contact Sightlines' office on 0191 261 7666 or email Robin: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

If you have a query about your booking, hotel or travel, please email Karen: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.