Reggio Approaches

Rushcombe First School’s ethos and approaches are influenced by the world-renowned Reggio Emilia schools in northern Italy, which base their philosophy of education upon the belief in an empowered, competent child. Within the Reggio schools, childhood is respected and nurtured, children’s rights are central to the ethos that is developed, and children are valued as contributors to society. One of the key beliefs of the Reggio Approach is the view of the child as a co-creator of the learning that takes place. As a result, there is an emphasis upon the child as a curious individual who constructs their knowledge and understanding of the world, alongside the skilful support and facilitation of the teacher. Children are viewed as capable of expressing themselves in a multitude of ways and are seen as artists, bringing their own valuable insights to the world. The child’s voice is central to the daily life of the Reggio schools, nurtured through an emphasis upon the fostering of interactions and communications between all participants.

At Rushcombe First School, we apply Reggio inspired approaches in a range of ways:

• Basing our ethos upon fostering warm, positive and equal relationships between all members of the school community, including establishing a more equal power balance between teacher and child.
• Valuing and nurturing childhood through providing regular opportunities for the child to experience awe, wonder and curiosity through the school’s Learning Adventures.
• Viewing the child as a social actor, with an equal right to experience the world and its culture.
• Developing learning experiences that value the child as a co-creator in the learning journey, for example, through approaches to lesson delivery and through the use of the Mantle of the Expert approach.
• Providing opportunities for studio-based learning so that children’s multitude of expressive languages are fostered.
• Providing a high-quality environment, which supports children’s learning and explorations, including attention to aesthetics and the use of natural materials.
• Providing regular opportunities for children to work collaboratively and to interact with others, so that learning is fostered between peers.

The school is proud to be one of the few schools nationally that embeds these principles within our ethos and approaches to learning. We believe that by placing these approaches at the centre of our ethos, we contribute to respecting and empowering childhood within modern day society. If you would like to find out more about the Reggio Approach, please go to:

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