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. 

This is day option 1 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. 

Our ongoing group is discussing  our practices of democracy and listening, in the participant nurseries. Today we will focus on sharing any reflections on our focus point of democracy since we last met – moving forward what now for the group…. To work together to set areas of focus for the next term. 

We really welcome new participation - so please don't hesitate to come along.

We will also share any headlines from the recent Sightlines Conferences – all participants to share a snippet they took away with them from the conference.

This group is a support network for each-other - a place we can share our work and then dig deeper, a place we can share our concerns and support each other and a place to continue learning together! All voices are listened to and heard and different perspectives and challenges of views are welcomed.

There will be time to look around the nursery. Please arrive promptly - or even early - there'll be drinks and pastries!

Network Proposal: Languages of Evaluation, Actions of Re-cognition

This is an introduction to a research proposal focussing on, yes, evaluation

This will be an online presentation and introduction by Peter Moss, Robin Duckett and Louise Lowings. Peter Moss will  discuss the situation as he sees it, and has introduced at conferences in Canada and the United States; Robin Duckett will introduce the project proposal; Louise Lowings will introduce work which her Nursery School has begun in this respect.

London ReFocus Open Meeting

London ReFocus, as part of Sightlines Initiative Network, invites early educators, artists and others in developing a creative and reflective approach to early years’ education and inspired in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Come and hear about Balham Nursery School’s journey in developing an environment with challenging and open ended continuous provision to enable deeper levels of learning and engagement.
You will have a chance to see the environment and hear how we have worked as a staff to develop a reflective learning community which focuses on how we are learning and not just what we are learning.

Balham Nursery School has used the Reggio Emilia approach as a mirror for reflective practice, taking care to ensure it is set in the context of their community. A recent Ofsted Inspection described their work as ‘outstanding’. Members may have seen the article ‘Into focus’ published by Nursery World (5th March 2018) describing their creative use of digital technology.

How to get to the meeting:
By tube: Northern line (direction Morden) to Balham Underground Station
By rail: Victoria (Southern) to Balham Railway Station
By bus: 155, 249

Book early!  Numbers are limited due to constraints on space.

The day is about: "honing education from the principles of relationship, encounter, enquiry, exchange and expression": principles which Sightlines Initiative and settings in its network are working on and towards. Informed by close encounters with the preschools of Reggio Emilia, and with colleagues from the Reggio International Network.

The day will include a mix of presentations and discussions;to mark, question and progress our pedagogy.

OUTLINE AGENDA

• What does it mean to say ‘inspired by Reggio’? - Examining pedagogical development grounded in Sightlines’ and Reggio’s principles: Robin Duckett; (including ‘Languages of Evaluation – evaluating practice from our principles’, Peter Moss)
• Researches: focussing on democracy – Sightlines Network West Midlands; 'the interplay of expressive languages' – Sightlines Network London
• Strategies for documenting and presenting the messages of shared learning (viewing and examining aspects of ‘The Many Faces of the Assembly’ (Reggio Children)

Whether you're already involved in our network or want to find out more the day is for you. We welcome you to attend from independent and statutory early childhood and primary settings.

On the previous day, in nearby Telford, we are holding An Encounter with Madeley Nursery School . This can make an ideal two-day professional development event.

image from 'The Many Faces of the Assembly' c. ReggioChildren

Erasmus+ EU funding is continuing to provide registered UK early childhood settings and schools with valuable opportunities to be ambitious with your pedagogical development visions and plans.

Yes, the application process is complex, but provides a highly valuable context and opportunity for professional enhancement and exchange through Key Action 1.
Participants in past study weeks in Reggio, in our Skylight 2017 group have benefitted from this financial enablement, and notably Medeley Nursery School have undertaken international projects under the Key Action 2 Strategic Partnerships scheme.

The Erasmus+ funding window is imminent, and is relatively brief (October 2018 – Feb 2019.) We have been advised by The British Council, who manage UK applications “eligibility to apply for Erasmus+ funds during this period will remain unchanged for the duration of projects under the current programme. On this basis, the UK Government encourages UK organisations to continue to bid for Erasmus+ funding. You can find more information about this at https://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/brexit-update  . Our Erasmus+ deadlines for 2019 have not yet been released. We expect these deadlines to be released in late October. If you have not already, we would advise signing up to the Erasmus+ newsletter, which will inform recipients when the new deadlines are announced. You can subscribe to this newsletter at https://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/subscribe-to-our-newsletter.”

Application Process Surgery
In order to help people prepare successfully for applications, we are offering a free online advice surgery for Sightlines Initiative Members. (If you are not a member you can pay a one-off £30  to join the event, or alternatively: join the network first!