Want to know what the Reggio Emilia approach is? Take a peek at our video to learn how it inspires the Early Years curriculum at AIS.
As parents of mini school-aged children, we’ve probably heard the term Reggio Emilia thrown around more than once. We know that it’s a popular teaching philosophy that’s taken many a kindergarten by storm, but we’ve never really understood what it entails. Lucky us, we recently had a chat with Rachael Symes, Deputy Head of Early Years at AIS, where we got the full lowdown on its Reggio Emilia inspired approach and how we can see it influences everything, right down to their child-height windows…
What exactly is the Reggio Emilia philosophy?
It’s an innovative and inspiring approach to early childhood education, which values the child as strong, capable and resilient; rich with wonder and knowledge. It was started by parents in Reggio Emilia, Italy after World War II because they felt that their children needed a new, better approach to learning. One of its main components is the 100 languages of children, which follows the belief that children have multiple ways of thinking, playing, exploring, speaking and doing. At AIS, children are given the opportunity to express themselves and share their thinking in many different ways.
The purpose-built Early Learning Village
Everything about the Early Learning Village is child-inspired. From its child height doors and windows, and amazing indoor and outdoor spaces, everything is built with the child in mind. This goes back to the Reggio Emilia philosophy and how the environment is viewed as the third teacher – the more child-friendly and open the environment is, the easier it is for the teacher to sit back and observe the children create their own learning journeys.
To learn more about AIS, and to get an inside look into its programmes, book a personalised tour and have a chat with their friendly admissions and teaching staff.
This post is sponsored by Australian International School.