Reggio Study Week April 2023

The preschools of Reggio Emilia have for more than a half-century been an international beacon for educators seeking to form enlightened education.

The vision and determination of a local community to create places of warm convivial learning for their children, enriched by a tenacious, researchful vision for education is a lasting and powerful contradiction to the idea of sitting children in an  environment of passive instruction.

These are times of possibility. Amidst calls and demands to ‘return to normal’ there are many who have lost patience with the ‘old normal’ or have seen that other ways of living and learning are indeed preferable. Multitudes of educators, head teachers, parents and advocates are striving to protect and develop possibilities for educational experiences with children’s rights, wellbeing and proclivities for natural enquiry at the heart.  Internationally we can see the development of education with principles informed by the exuberant work of Reggio’s preschools.

Sunday 16th - Friday 21st April 2023
Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, Reggio Emilia, Italy.

This is 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 15th April and transporting back to Bologna airport on Saturday 22nd 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.

We will arrange at least one online group introduction leading up to the trip, and we can also arrange preliminary formation sessions with you and your teams.  We recommend this guided preparation with your setting during the six months leading to the week, especially if you are planning this visit as part of strategic development.

During – Sightlines Initiative representatives 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 plan to start the week with a group orientation meeting on Sunday morning 17^th April, then Sunday lunch.  If possible, there will be a guided tour of the city on Sunday afternoon. 

We hold further discussion groups through the week 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 £1560. This fee covers all the above:

• Administration, advice and support before and during the week.
• Introductory Group Session a.m. Sunday 17^th April, including lunch
• Hotel booking facilitation
• Guidance on developing your centre's practice
• Seminars, presentations, exhibits at the International Centre Loris Malaguzzi
• Guided tour of the city 
• Sunday group lunch/ evening meal
• UK discussion group opportunities
• Interpretation
• 5 lunches at the International Centre Monday - Friday
• Lectures, presentations, exhibitions at the Malaguzzi centre
• 3 months' membership to Sightlines Initiative's Community
• The conditions for visits to preschools and infant-toddler centres during the study week is under regular review subsequent to the covid pandemic; all the organising parties within Reggio Emilia will be seeking to maximise the possibilities.

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. Our group will be a constituent part of  an International group alongside groups from Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere; 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.

Currently places are limited to 35. Once registration reaches the limit, you will be entered on a waiting list.

There is a particularly high international demand for Reggio Study Week places, after the hiatus of  the past two years, so do not delay; we may offer vacant space to other groups after January 2023.

Once you've booked your place you will automatically be sent an invoice, attached to your booking confirmation email.  Once you've paid we will then be in touch with further information including reading material, how to book your accommodation with us, transfers between Bologna and Reggio Emilia, and additional options during the week.

Travel arrangements

You will need to book your own flights. We recommend you fly to Bologna Airport.  Alternatively you could fly into Milan 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 11th June, and for returns on Saturday 22nd April.

We advise that you are in Reggio Emilia by the eve of Saturday 11th April as we will have a group welcome meeting on the Sunday morning, followed by lunch. We are also currently discussing the possibility of guided tours around the city during Sunday. The programme with Reggio will begin on Monday morning, at the international Centre Loris Malaguzzi.  The programme will finish on Friday afternoon at around 2pm (we may offer some cultural tours on Friday afternoon to round off the week.) 

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. When you book we will inform you of the range of options and costs, which vary depending on the hotel/hostel. 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.

Personal Insurances & Cancellation

You need to provide an assurance that you have personal insurance to cover accidents/medical expenses as well as additional costs which may be incurred connected with a medical emergency;

[also see  Terms & Conditions]

Event cancellation

The organisers reserve the right to cancel/re-organise the event due to circumstances beyond their control, for example a pandemic-related situation, and are not liable for additional costs incurred related to this (e.g. travel, accommodation.)

Personal cancellation due to covid-positive test (condition subject to revision)

In the event of a participant’s proven and documented positive test result or in the event of a required isolation of a participant’s cohabiting family member found up to the day of the start of the professional development programme, the participant is entitled to withdraw from the professional development programme and receive a full refund. The participant will have to cover travel, board and accommodation costs at their own expense, possibly with an appropriate travel cancellation insurance policy. A participant who tests positive for Covid-19 after the start of the professional development activity will not be entitled to any refund of professional development fees already paid. The participant will also be responsible for any additional travel, board, accommodation and hospital costs.

[also see  Terms & Conditions]

More Information ...

Please ring us if you have queries about preparation material and arranging for development work prior to the week itself ( which we highly recommend, especially for settings anticipating systems development) or if you have any other particular queries that you want answered.

For more information please contact Sightlines Initiative 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. 

Coronavirus-related international travel information links

Italian

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation: Italian nationals returning to Italy and foreigners in Italy

Ministry of Health :covid19 - travellers

UK

UK gov: foreign travel advice - Italy