Exploring the History of the Reggio Emilia Approach

The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy that thousands of service providers have been inspired by worldwide, including our own early learning centres! This approach views children as active participants in their own educational journey who have the potential to learn from everything around them. It promotes nurturing a strong sense of self from a young age, the importance of creativity, and the strength of community connection. Join us in this blog as we explore the rich history of the Reggio Emilia approach to learning and discover how it has become a cornerstone of early childhood education and care today!

Rebuilding Italy

The concept of the Reggio Emilia philosophy was born in the late nineteenth century in Italy, just after World War II had ended. During this time, the biggest challenge was rebuilding communities – both in terms of infrastructure and social customs. The people strongly desired change and shared a vision to rebuild a just world free from inequality. In the area surrounding the city of Reggio Emilia, the people decided to invest their efforts into early childhood education. They realised their children would inhabit the new world they were working hard to create.

With a small amount of money, land from a local farmer, and materials sourced from buildings destroyed during the war, a school was built for young children in the village of Villa Cella, seven kilometres from Reggio Emilia. The people did not want this to be any ordinary school. Instead, they wanted it to be a place that fosters a love of learning and promotes respect for all.

Loris Malaguzzi’s Vision

Loris Malaguzzi was a local teacher and the key figure in the development of the Reggio Emilia approach. Having grown up under Fascist rule as a young child, Malaguzzi was determined to build a better future for the children and families of Reggio Emilia, who were greatly affected by the war and political leadership of their country.

Malaguzzi heard about the school built in Villa Cella, so he visited and found out more about it. He was so impressed that he stayed and helped, using his education and psychology background to develop a philosophy for the school that aligned with the people’s vision of the future. 

Many other schools for young children were built following Villa Cella, all created and managed by parents. As a community-run system, they relied solely on the support of the local community for resources, food, and teachers. However, Malaguzzi’s efforts influenced the government to support many of these ‘people’s schools’, as well as the opening of the first municipal preschool in 1963.

The Growth of the Reggio Emilia Approach

Despite its humble beginnings, the Reggio Emilia approach to learning gained popularity for its innovative and child-centred focus. International interest sparked in 1987 at the annual National Association for the Education of Young Children and has continued to grow ever since.

Today, the Reggio Emilia approach has been adopted by more than 145 countries. Thousands of Reggio-inspired services can be found worldwide, each adapting and implementing the philosophy in ways that resonate with their own culture and community.

The Reggio Emilia Approach in Action

In a world where traditional early childhood education can be rigid and structured, the Reggio Emilia approach emphasises children as capable individuals who can direct their own learning. 

At Reggio Emilia Early Learning Centres, the Reggio Emilia approach is central to our practices, curriculum, and interactions. We integrate this philosophy alongside Australia’s National Quality Standard for education and the Early Years Learning Framework to create an environment that ignites exploration and engagement for our children. Here’s how:

Curriculum: The Reggio-inspired curriculum is flexible and influenced by children’s ideas and interests. Topics are captured from children’s conversations and through community and family events. This creates a unique learning program that is relevant and engaging, as well as promotes a lifelong passion for learning and exploration. 

Project Work: The Reggio Emilia approach is known for project-based learning. These projects are flexible; they may last a few days or continue throughout the year. During a project, educators and families guide children to make decisions about how they will research the topic and what materials will be needed for the work.

Collaboration: At the heart of the Reggio Emilia approach is collaboration between educators and all those involved in a child’s learning journey, including parents, members of the community, and the child too! This interconnectedness between the home, service, and broader community works to support a child’s educational journey and improve learning outcomes.

Educators: The Reggio Emilia approach emphasises the role of an educator as a collaborator and co-learner alongside the children. At our early learning centres, educators carefully listen, document, and observe each child’s learning experience and are encouraged to continually reflect on their own teaching and learning.

Environment: After parents and teachers, the Reggio Emilia approach highlights the environment as the ‘third educator’. Classroom layouts and outdoor areas are carefully planned to encourage children to interact and explore. At our early learning centres, children also get to explore new places outside of the classroom through a variety of incursions and excursions.

The Reggio Emilia approach brings a refreshing, child-centred focus to early childhood education. Born from a community’s desire to create a better future for children after World War II, this philosophy has grown internationally and is embedded in many childcare services today. At our early learning centres, we have embraced the Reggio Emilia approach to create an engaging and fun environment in which our children can thrive in. To learn more, reach out to us on 02 9891 2222 or via email at mail@reggioemilia.com.au.