Reggio Emilia

Serendipity School draws inspiration from the Reggio Emilia schools of the Italian commune of Reggio Emilia, founded in the post-World War II period. In their own words, such schools aim to be “kind, industrious, inventive, alive, documentable, and communicable — a place for research, learning, recognition, and reflection, where students, teachers, and families feel at home” (Scuole e Nidi d'Infanzia, 2003, p. 22).

In brief, the Reggio Emilia philosophy views the child as a subject with inherent potential, learning through the various languages common to humanity and developing through relationships with others. Its core principles include:

1. the physical environment as the ‘third teacher’, following family and educators;

2. a rich team of educators, including specialized atelier teachers;

3. ateliers, designed to expand early childhood education beyond simplistic words and routines;

4. extensive documentation of learning experiences; and

5. active family participation in the educational process.‍