Robin Duckett and Mary Jane Drummond 

How do we translate our values and beliefs into practice?
Action-research narratives and reflections on establishing creative, reflective early childhood pedagogy: early childhood educators and creative enablers describe their collaborative work for others who want to explore and grow.

• When we say we value children as competent, sociable, imaginative and expressive learners, what do we do about it in practice?
• When we say we need to be critical, reflective and creative in our practice, how do we realise these aspirations?
• When we try to create environments of enquiry, with space for children's fascinations, what will help - or hinder - us in doing so?

"We are the explorers of the Diana School, we’re the strongest of all, even though strength doesn’t really count that much it’s better to be intelligent… we’re the best experts on dinosaurs, insects, tricks and jokes… we’re writing some things for you so you can learn them." The Big Kids of Diana School

The 5-6-year old children of Diana Preschool recount to the 3-year-olds the school they are coming to. In the book a game of stickers to find one’s own way in the new school.

Edited by Paola Strozzi and Vea Vecchi
Graphic design by Rolando Baldini and Vania Vecchi

Published by Reggio Children

An inspirational book for anyone involved in creating experiences of encounter and transition for young children

A3 folder of ideas, drawings, and interpretations of animals by children of the Municipal Preschools of Reggio Emilia.

 Publisher: Reggio Children (1995)

A collection of wonderful ideas, microstories, children's thoughts and theories, fragments of 23 projects from Reggio Children.

Designed for educators' group discussion and professional formation.

"An open and engaging A3 folder of new and different contributions of children and teachers that, with a particular narrative and iconic synthesis, keep a trace of the basic project but express new concepts that can generate enormous educational potentials, able to elicit new ideas and new proposals."

Sections from the Reggio exhibition "THE WONDER OF LEARNING"

Published by Reggio Children (2009)

A mother cat and her kittens living in the schoolyard: an extraordinary experience for the children at Villetta Preschool.

A3 folder of drawings and ideas.
Published by Reggio Children (1995)

Are you looking for ways in which your children can explore their world through music and movement?

This slideshow/video summarises our 2-year project with a nursery and primary school in Kendal. Discover what we did, what we learned, what obstacles we faced and how the children engaged.

Production has been supported by Youth Music, and so we are able to make this free to download.

This booklet tracks the development of one of the many ideas that the children conceived. Lots of theories and stories emerged through the inspiration the natural evviroment had of the children's creative and curious minds. An interplay between staff and children, the environment and the imagination.

This video narrates the project “The Times of Time” that involved children from the infant-toddler center to primary school carried out within the context of the  international photography festival Fotografia Europea 2008.

Photographs and thoughts of children and adults tell of the times, many different, perceived and measured, awaited.

The images are organized in three sections: the catalogue of the exhibition “The Times of Time”, a short documentary on the project in the Reggio Emilia infant-toddler centers, preschools and primary schools, and the photography ateliers held in the town.
The video creates an interweaving between the learning experiences of the adults, the experimentation of the children, and the photographic images, highlighting an approach to the visual language that is constructed in a context of many relationships.

The Exhibition running time: 9’25’’
The Times of Time - Video Documentation in the infant-toddler centres and schools running time: 5’09’’
Photographic Atelier - Video Documentation running time: 12’13’’
Audio: Italian stereo
Subtitles: English
Video format: 4:3
 
 

The importance of looking at yourself for constructing your identity.

An A3 folder collection of portraits made by the children at Pablo Neruda Preschool for giving themselves a face, a body, speech, thought, and emotion.

Published by Reggio Children (1995)

ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia

Articles include:

• 'Everything is a Beginning'  by Mary Jane Drummond
• 'In the Jungle with the Children of Adderley' by Debi Keyte-Hartland
• 'The Racing Car Boys' by Jude Noble, Nicola Balfour, Chris Holmes
• 'Practically Speaking' by Emma Pace
• 'The Four Beasts and the one Dad with No Child' by Sasha Laskey and Ed Harker
• 'Focus on Cambridge' by Mary Jane Drummond and Sue Bainbridge
• 'Dedicated to Loris Malaguzzi, the town of Reggio Emilia and its Schools' by Peter Moss

ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia

Articles include:

• 'Woodland Kids' by Linda Lines
• 'Making Learning Intriguing' by Ed Harker
• 'Bilston Nursery School' by Catherine Webb
• 'Practically speaking - Clay reigns supreme' by Elaine Mason
• 'Creature Worlds' by Chris Holmes and Elaine Mason
• 'The Life of an Idea' by Robin Dickett and Elaine Mason
• 'A knowledge building project about birds' by Ann Aberg
• 'In the Best Interests of Children' by Jenny Brain

ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia

Articles include:

• 'At the beginning of the beginning' by Sally Jaeckle
• 'Teachers as researchers' by Carlina Rinaldi
• 'The role and responsibility of documentation' by Elaine Mason
• 'A new literacy for children and educators' by Christine Merrick
• 'Risk and Trust' by Allenscroft Children's Centre
• 'Practically Speaking' by Debi Keyte-Hartland
• 'Crostini, tagliatelle, attachers, fixers and Joiners' by Ian Lakin. Madeley Nursery School
• 'Focus on Manchester'  by Kathy Coates Mohammed
• 'Memory, and peace for the future' by June Holmes

ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia

Articles Include:

• ' Learning from Laos: Children and environments' by Architect John Waldron
•  'ReMida Denmark: The function of materials in places of imagination' by  Karen Eskesen
• 'Danish Preschools UK Study Week reviews' by Sarah McGahern, Sue Cleaver and Tricia Yates
• 'Focus on Herefordshire' by Sue Peasgood
• 'Elemental materials'  by Robin Duckett 
• The Drama of Clay'  by artist Sally Brown
• 'Open Space, Open Air, Open Minds' by (Kingswood Centre) by Rachel Wells
• 'Sophie's Story' by Trish Prescott and Wendy Lowe

ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia

 Articles include:

• 'The House of Objects' by  Elaine Mason
• The 'Inside-Out' Project: Can the physical environment be a 'teacher' in itself?' by Mary Featherstone
• 'Focus on Buckinghamshire' by  Yvonne Davies
• 'Learning Journeys: Green Croft Children's Centre'  by Catherine Davenport
• 'Uncertainty and Knowing' by Annette Poulson and Cath Dennis
• 'Placing and Arranging, No Glue' by Solveig Morris
• 'The Role of the Educator is to Stir Things Up'  by Marika Gedin
• 'Threads: The Real and Hidden World of Nature' by Linda Lines

ReFocus is the UK network of early childhood educators, artists and others influenced in their practice by the preschools of Reggio Emilia

Articles include:

• 'Professional Amnesia: A suitable case for treatment'  by  Mary Jane Drummond
• 'Acting Up: Leadership and responsibility'  by Peter Dixon
• 'Playing and Learning Outdoors'  by Jan White
• 'Pedagogical Documentation' by Chris Holmes and Chris Merrick
• 'Community of Enquiry: Do hedgehogs dream?' by Adam Turner
• 'The Energy of Conviviality and Imagination: Exploring and developing ideas through dance and music' by Maria Mernin and Cath Reding
• 'Acting up: Leadership and Responsibility' by Peter Dixon