Events Archive

This is a one-hour session for people interested in participating in the April 2026 Reggio Study Week . When you register you'll receive a Zoom link for the session, then please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. outlining your main questions (remember there's lots of information already in the Event details.)

Alessandra Braglia: Pedagogista of Reggio Emilia's Preschools

An Introduction to Lived Values and Practice

The preschools of Reggio Emilia, a historic town in Northern Italy, evolved through community actions following  WWII. They were built on the premise to teach children to think for themselves and with an image of the child as rich in potential, strong, powerful and competent. The schools embrace creativity, listening to children, community involvement, democratic citizenship, professional dialogue and documentation of learning processes. There are now over 78 municipal preschools and infant toddler centres in Reggio Emilia, and their approach is an inspiration to educators around the world. 

Since 1997, many thousands of UK educators have encountered the preschools, through visits, talks, exhibitions in the UK and in Italy. These encounters have been a strong influence in practice and in policy, and we are now excited to be renewing the dialogues with new generations of educators.

You can read more  on our website HERE, and also on Reggio Children's website. 

We are delighted that Alessandra Braglia, who works in four of Reggio's Early Childhood Centres, will be the voice of Reggio in this introduction, and will also be leading our in-depth day in London on February 14th.

Join Chris Merrick and RobinDuckett and the NEU for an inspirational day discussing all things early years at Hamilton House, WC1H 9BD. The day will be packed with CPD, networking, organising and activism.

Early years expert Ruth Swailes will be the keynote speaker and the NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede will open the day’s proceedings.

We’ll be hosting a workshop on Reclaiming Quality as part of the programme.

The notion of ‘quality’ is referenced regularly as if we then don’t need to question it. On the contrary, questioning is essential – what do we mean by quality?

Our difficulty goes back at least to the forming of the National Curriculum / Foundation Stage documents in the early ‘90s. And before that, as early childhood educators did not sufficiently articulate principles (we often simply said ‘we start where the children are at.’) The conversation around ‘Quality in Diversity’ was an excellent attempt at defining quality in the current UK context, but it was overshadowed and lost under the tide of the Foundation Stage expectations and ‘desirable outcomes.’

Since then, despite the best efforts of the broad spectrum of early childhood advocates, ‘quality’, ‘learning’ and ‘curriculum’ in the UK has been progressively dominated and defined by measurement-mentality. Measuring and instruction rather than informed environments for rounded human enquiry and learning.

So – how should we understand, reclaim and articulate quality? What should ‘quality education’ look like? What are core tenets? What is it Not?

The conference welcomes both NEU members and non-members.

Read more: NEU Early Years' Conference

Apply for your free space here. 

'The National Education Union stands up for the future of education. It brings together the voices of half a million teachers, lecturers, support staff and leaders working in maintained and independent schools and colleges across the UK, to form the largest education union in Europe.'

“Listening is an active verb that involves giving meaning and value to the perspective of others” – Prof. Carla Rinaldi

In this open meeting we will be celebrating the work of Carlina Rinaldi by exploring the concept of ‘listening’ in early years practice. As a pedagogista in Reggio Emilia, and later president of Reggio Children, Carlina developed a profound legacy of thinking in relation to young children’s education. Together we will explore the idea of ‘listening’ as an active, engaged process of recognition and consider connections to practice by reflecting on what listening looks like in our own settings, how we might listen deeply and attentively to children’s ‘hundred languages’, what to do with our noticings, and potential challenges involved in such an approach.

There is a short suggested pre-reading for this meeting, looking at key elements of Carlina’s ‘Pedagogy of Listening’, which will be sent to those registered. Please also come with examples and/or questions you have relating to listening in your own practice.

The session will be led by Dr Penny Lawrence, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at UCL Institute of Education, who formerly worked in Reggio Emilia’s video documentation centre, supported by the London ReFocus network.

London ReFocus is part of the Sightlines Initiative network, bringing together educators, artists, researchers and others interested in developing a creative and reflective approach to early years education, inspired by the practice of Reggio Emilia.

Please contact Melanie O’Leary if you have any questions about the event: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

With Reggio Children recognised teacher-educators on the Reggio Emilia Approach Debi Keyte-Hartland (Early Education Associate Consultant) and Louise Lowings (Headteacher of Madeley Nursery School, Telford & Wrekin, and Sightlines Initiative Trustee).

This series is hosted by Early Education. When booking, Sightlines Initiative members should contact Sightlines Initiative office to obtain their registration members discount code.

Debi and Louise have visited Reggio Emilia on numerous Sightlines Initiative study groups over the past 25 years, each time researching a different aspect of their pedagogy and practice. As representatives of Sightlines Initiative they have undertaken professional development with Reggio Children to become recognised teacher-educators on the Reggio Approach (a new initiative of Reggio Children through the Reggio Children International Network). 

This professional learning community is suitable for anyone:

• who has attended a study group to Reggio Emilia in the past who is wanting to connect and/or deepen their practice in dialogue with the Reggio Emilia Approach ®
• thinking about attending a study tour in the near future to visit the pre-schools and infant toddler centres of Reggio Emilia
• curious to know more about the approach which has become an international reference point throughout the world.

Food education has traditionally focused on health-oriented issues like improving or developing healthy eating habits, combatting obesity and/or eating disorders. Aspects regarding the emotional, relational and sensory aspects of food and taste have often not been considered among the main aims of teaching/learning, although in recent years there has been a shift towards recognising the importance of the role of food in
education. Jennifer’s research, stemming from three case studies, offers concrete examples of what learner-centred, sense-based food and taste education can look like as well as
insight into the thinking underlying the Reggio approach to food and taste education.

Jennifer Coe has a background in fine art and the humanities. She lives in Italy and has worked as an atelierista since 2010. Currently she is completing her PhD in “Reggio Childhood Studies” at the Università di Modena and Reggio Emilia. Her research interests include food & taste education and play & learning.

London ReFocus is part of the Sightlines Initiative network, bringing together educators, artists, researchers and others interested in developing a creative and reflective approach to
early years education, inspired by the practice of Reggio Emilia.

Reggio Emilia Study Week 2025

Sunday 16th - Friday 21st March 2025

Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, Reggio Emilia, Italy.

A one-week study visit to learn about and be inspired by the world renowned educational approach of the preschools and infant toddler centres of Reggio Emilia. We will be sharing this week with a large group of colleagues from the Vancouver Reggio Association - this will be a great opportunity for discussions between UK and Canadian perspectives.

This course will explore the key principles underpinning the Reggio approach to early childhood education including:

• History and background
• Creativity and expressive languages of children
• the pedagogy of listening
• The environment as 'the third teacher'
• Parents as partners
• Democratic citizenship
• Children as the subjects of rights
• Children and educators as researchers
• Observation, interpretation, documentation
• Making learning visible
• Professional dialogue

Read more ....

Visit Madeley Nursery School and encounter theirs and Sightlines Initiative Network's, principles in practice. 

documentation displayed"We are a Reggio inspired school with a beautiful learning environment and exciting child led curriculum. As a research school, we are involved in many national and international projects linked to early learning. Our aim is to create 'a community of learning where there are endless opportunities to discover together through curiosity, creativity and play."

Madeley Nursery School in Telford are keen participants in Sightlines' Network since 2000. This day  is designed for those wanting to explore the possible ways of practicing the principles of an environment of enquiry, and engage in dialogue with a committed staff group who are making keen endeavours to explore and develop their own practice. 

The day will begin promptly at 9a.m. at the Nursery, with an introduction followed by time to observe in the morning. After lunch there will be opportunities for discussion, and at the close of the school day, general discussion with staff. We will explore how the principles of Sightlines Initiative can be developed in your daily practice; the influences and inspirations from Reggio, and the inevitable challenges. 

Are you a current Sightlines Initiative Network Member? Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to enquire about possible discount.