This second day of our weekend with Tiziana Filippini, pedagogista of Reggio Emilia, will focus, seminar-style, on exploring Network subscribers’ issues in the development of their educational practice.

We invite discussion of key questions (tabled in advance, so that we can prepare together.)

We will also discuss aspects of the 2019 Network new project focus 'Working with Visual Metaphor, ' to give a strong start to this exciting project.

An in-depth encounter with Tiziana Filippini, Reggio Emilia pedagogista and consultant.

"Ideas fly, bounce around, accumulate, rise up, fall apart slowly, or spread, until finally one of them takes a decisive hold; it flies higher and conquers the entire group of children.” Loris Malaguzzi: from 'Daily Life at School: Seeing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary.' Making Learning Visible page 72

This day will be an unparallelled opportunity to engage directly with a  representative of Reggio who has such long-term and deep experience, and is ready to dialogue and debate in English. Be inspired by what is desirable and possible in early childhood education.

Tiziana is a passionate, strong advocate of Reggio's Approach and knowledge - she has been a core part of the work of the schools since 1978: In particular, Tiziana was the long-standing pedagogista of the famous Diana Preschool, which came to the world’s attention when it was featured by Newsweek in 1991 as one of the 10 best schools in the world. She has engaged in international numerous international dialogues, often accompanying Loris Malaguzzi on research and lecture tours to Sweden and Denmark, and was a member of the research team  of the acclaimed reference work Making Learning Visible.

Here is a short extract 'learning in relationship' from her  2013 talk, also in London at IoE.

Sunday 10th November will be a seminar day for Sightlines Initiative Network participant settings to work in dialogue with Ms. Filippini . (see separate registration.)

During the school year 2019 -20 we have arranged three dates in which you can visit Madeley Nursery School in Spring 2019 and encounter theirs, and Sightlines Initiative Network's, principles in practice. 

Participation is limited to 8 on each occasion.

documentation displayed"We are a Reggio inspired school with a beautiful learning environment and exciting child led curriculum. As a research school, we are involved in many national and international projects linked to early learning. Our aim is to create 'a community of learning where there are endless opportunities to discover together through curiosity, creativity and play."

Madeley Nursery School in Telford are keen participants in Sightlines' Network since 2000. This day  is designed for those wanting to explore the possible ways of practicing the principles of an environment of enquiry, and engage in dialogue with a committed staff group who are making keen endeavours to explore and develop their own practice. 

The day will begin promptly at 9a.m. at the Nursery, with an introduction followed by time to observe in the morning. After lunch there will be opportunities for discussion, and at the close of the school day, general discussion with staff. We will explore how the principles of Sightlines Initiative can be developed in your daily practice; the influences and insprations from Reggio, and the inevitable challenges. 

Click the button 'Choose Dates & Location' for further details and to book (there are Not multiple locations, in this case!)

London ReFocus Open Meeting

Continuing our theme ‘Curious Adults, Curious Children’, This open meeting will give a further chance to hear different perspectives on democracy in early childhood education, both in theory and practice focusing on:

• What is democracy?
• How can democracy manifest itself in early childhood education?

Diana will share theory and research by using the voices and different perspectives of educators on the necessary conditions for democratic practices in the early years.

Cath with Nisha will share Rowland Hill’s project: ‘Framing the learning: a democratic exploration using photography and film with young children and their families ’.

As Carlina Rinaldi states in ‘In Dialogue with Reggio Emilia’
“…we must not forget how closely the school is related to the society in which it is situated’. ‘There is the recurring question of whether the school is limited to transmitting culture or can be (aspire to) a place where culture is constructed and democracy is lived”.

Have you heard of the Reggio Emilia Approach to pedagogy but only second hand?

Are you inspired by the principles of Reggio Emilia and want to learn more about introducing this into your setting?

Then this one day event, organised in collaboration with national early years organisation Early Education, is for you.

We know that it is difficult to turn beliefs, values and aspirations into practice: there’s a gap between what we want to do and what actually happens.

For more than twenty years, we have been working in dialogue with Reggio Emilia, in encouraging and demonstrating how to close the gap.

This day introduces the theory and practice of Reggio Emilia’s preschools, for those who are inspired to create educational contexts fit for children's curiosity and meaning-making.

During this day, we will consider:

• Core features of Reggio Emilia’s Approach
• Experiences of UK settings who have re-framed their practice
• Issues and possibilities for transforming your educational practice

The presenters will be from the group of Sightlines Initiative Consultants - Elizabeth Elders, Robin Duckett, Christine Merrick, Debi Keyte-Hartland,  all of whom have long-standing direct knowledge of Reggio Emilia's preschools, and are part of its International Network. 

Reggio Emilia Study Week 2019

Sunday 7th - Friday 12th April 2019

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

Read more ....

Come and hear about Little Jungle Nursery’s journey in developing a culture of participation and collaboration, as a means of deepening children’s learning.

You will have a chance to visit the nursery as well as gain an insight into how democracy manifests itself across all aspects of their provision and practice to create a rich and reflective learning environment for both children and adults.

Little Jungle believe that it is the right of every human being to be respected, listened to and feel valued and that every one of us can influence the shape of society and must take responsibility for doing so. Education therefore must trust and encourage children’s competency to learn and construct their own knowledge, within a context of strong values that support this approach, and underpins what makes humanity such a special entity.

“We must not forget how closely the school is related to the society in which it is situated” and aspire to education not being limited to transmitting culture, but “a place where culture is constructed and democracy is lived” (Carla Rinaldi: 'In Dialogue with Reggio Emilia', Routledge.)

This is day option 2 to visit Madeley Nursery School in Spring 2019 and encounter theirs, and Sightlines initive Network's, principles in practice. 

Participation is limited to 8. These are two separate days, so please choose one, not both.

documentation displayed"We are a Reggio inspired school with a beautiful learning environment and exciting child led curriculum. As a research school, we are involved in many national and international projects linked to early learning. Our aim is to create 'a community of learning where there are endless opportunities to discover together through curiosity, creativity and play."

Madeley Nursery School in Telford are keen participants in Sightlines' Network since 2000. This day  is designed for those wanting to explore the possible ways of practicing the principles of an environment of enquiry, and engage in dialogue with a committed staff group who are making keen endeavours to explore and develop their own practice. 

The day will begin promptly at 9a.m. at the Nursery, with an introduction followed by time to observe in the morning. After lunch there will be opportunities for discussion, and at the close of the school day, general discussion with staff. We will explore how the principles of Sightlines Initiative can be developed in your daily practice; the influences and insprations from Reggio, and the inevitable challenges.