In this session, we briefly explore the key principles of Reggio Emilia and what they might mean in other contexts.

Participants are invited to ask questions for points of clarification.

In this session we turn our focus to developing an image of child with our youngest citizens. We explore what it might mean to work alongside the competent and capable child.

Constructing your Image of Child is a foundation element in working with a different viewpoint on your practice. Alongside your philosophy statement, we look at the impact of the competent teacher working with the competent child. 

Young children need access to a broad range of open ended materials and resources to test their ideas and theories, and to share their understanding of the world around them. We explore what this means for very young children through to preschoolers. 

Much is made of following "children's interests" but how do we really listen carefully to the ideas and theories that children are building about the world around them and support these through our planning?

Working on from the seminar above, we examine what it might mean to "plan for the possible" and how we might use an inquiry approach to our work with young children based on our deep listening.

How can we move the time and effort it takes to develop children's individual portfolios "because parents love them" to an authentic narrative of groups of children working together over time?

Young children are subjected to many routines and transitions during they, especially during lunch and rest times. We explore ways in which we can slow down, involved children in everyday life and reduce anxiety and stress for everyone. 

It is important to extend the notion of the 'third teacher' beyond just the physical environment and consider the role of relationships so that we seek a context that supports teaching and learning. 

We are learning more and more about how children's brains work - for example the impact of visual and auditory noise on children's cognition. Let's see what else it is telling us.