“To make a lovable school, industrious, inventive, liveable, documentable and communicable, a place of research, learning, re-cognition and reflection, where children, teachers and families feel well - is our point of arrival.” 
Loris Malaguzzi

What is the ‘Reggio Approach’? 

• The following factors are inherent in the Reggio Approach:
• the image of the child
• the expressive arts in the pre-school establishment
• progettazione
• community and parent–school relationships
• environment
• teachers as learners.

The Reggio Emilia approach is an early education or preschool philosophy that uses four key principles to focus on a child's natural development. The approach is both child-centered and directed, taking the philosophy that learning must make sense to the student (even the youngest students) in order to be effective and meaningful.

A child's point of view is completely respected and the student is encouraged to follow their own educational path. It is believed that a child's driving sense of curiosity, along with their inherent potential will foster an interest in learning, allowing them to learn and succeed long-term. It is that curiosity and potential that should ultimately set the path and the direction that any and all learning will follow.

Reggio Emilia Principles

The Reggio Emilia philosophy is based upon the following set of principles:

• Children must have some say over what they learn; additionally, the senses play a big role in the learning process.
• Children engage with their senses to help them learn and fully process something. 
• Children are encouraged to interact with other children and explore the world through material items and relationships.
• Children should be encouraged to always express themselves and be given infinite means and opportunities to do so.

What does it look like at Oaklands: