Study Tours

Study Tour to Reggio Emilia

April 14 - 19, 2013 - FULLY BOOKED

The Municipal early childhood programs in Reggio Emilia, Northern Italy, for children aged three months to six years, are internationally acclaimed for the inspirations, challenges, and provocations they provide for all those concerned with the care and education of young children. Observation, documentation, and collaborative interpretation of children's discussions and actions, provide the constant possibility of developing new theories and constructs based on practice.

The schools have developed in direct response to beliefs held about the purpose of education, and in response to the specific cultural, geographic, political, economic and historical experiences of a small city in Northern Italy. This combined with the fact that the theories, ideas and practices in the schools are constantly changing and evolving, means that the schools cannot provide a model for practice in Australia, or a tool for the marketing of schools. Rather they offer an inspiration and a provocation for our thinking and practice.

The Study Program

• A guided walking tour of the city is provided on the Sunday afternoon of the 14th April by the Friends of Reggio Children
• The study programme commences on Monday 15th April and concludes with a tea on the evening of Friday 19th  April.
• The venue for the week is the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre
• A limited bus service is available to from the city to the International Centre. It is also within easy walking distance from the Astoria Hotel.
• Lectures will be in either English or Italian. An interpreter will be available whenever the Italian language is to be used.
• Study topics will include:
  • Background and history of the Reggio Emilia educational project
  • Children as citizens with rights
  • The school as a system of interactions and relationships
  • The environment and the educational space
  • Observation, interpretation, documentation
  • The Hundred Languages of Children
  • Parents’ involvement in the life of the school
  • ReMida (recycled materials as resources)
  • The Programme will include:
    • Presentations and seminars by teachers, pedagogistas and atelieristas
    • Visits to pre schools and infant toddler centres
    • Visits to exhibitions

The cost of the 2013 Study Tour is $2800.00 AU. This represents €1230 including taxes to Reggio Children, plus currency exchange and an administration cost to REAIE.

This cost includes visits to schools and local bus travel, meetings, presentations, final dinner, morning and afternoon teas, interpreters, insurance against damage to schools, printed materials. International delegates are also required to pay a 20% tax to the Italian Government for professional learning undertaken in Italy.  This was introduced in 2009.

N.B The fee to Reggio Children is an all-inclusive cost to all participants and cannot be altered for non-use of some of the components, e.g. land transportation, final dinner, etc.

N.B It does not include accommodation, airfares, insurances, transfers or other associated costs.

The demand for places is high and places will be allocated on receipt of your registration form and deposit of $800AU on a first come first serve basis. No exceptions are possible. Registrations will close on 30th November 2012 or as soon as all places are filled.

Please complete the registration form and return it to REAIE with your deposit of $800.00AU. Places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis on receipt of your registration form AND deposit. Your deposit will be fully refunded if we are unable to offer you a place in the Study Program.

N.B. A final invoice will be sent out in January 2013 and the final payment is due by 13th February 2013.

Payment can be made by cheque, money order, or credit card (please make sure you write your name on the back of cheques). Cheques should be made payable to: Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange Inc.

Please click here to download further information and a registration form.

Please complete one registration form per participant.

The REAIE office is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am to 3.30pm for enquiries and information.

Phone (03) 9810 3166/26  Fax: (03) 9818 1672 to email the office please click here

Study tours to Reggio Emilia are generally organised once a year by REAIE. These week long programs offer the opportunity for participants to visit infant - toddler centres and preschools in Reggio Emilia and participate in lectures, workshops, discussion groups etc. The program is held the Loris Malaguzzi Centre in Reggio Emilia. The centre also contains exhibitions of the work of the schools in Reggio Emilia and other workshop experiences. Participants also are able to visit the town of Reggio Emilia during the week. Optional tours to Venice and Florence are generally available at an additional cost.

In-depth study weeks are generally organised by Reggio Children. These programs are for a limited number of participants and explore specific topics within the pedagogy of Reggio Emilia.