The Reggio Children Project 2023, funded by National Pyjama Day
Week-long event in Ireland as part of the Reggio Children Project 2023, funded by National Pyjama Day.
Early Childhood Ireland is the Irish member of the Reggio International Network. In 2023, we are leading a new project which is supported by National Pyjama Day, the largest one-day fundraising event in the Early Years and School Age Care sector here. As part of the project, 24 members of Early Childhood Ireland travelled to Italy in April for an immersive study tour. They have returned to Ireland inspired by what they’ve learned and have already begun to apply their learnings in settings. The return visit is taking place in May and will be followed by the development of an eLearning toolkit on the Reggio Emilia Approach for Early Childhood Ireland member settings.
During the week beginning Monday, 15 May 2023, Early Childhood Ireland is delighted to host a delegation of visitors from Reggio Emilia, Italy. While in Ireland, they will meet with educators, sector representatives, and policy makers to share their world-renowned philosophy of Early Years education.
Masterclasses on Exploring the Reggio Emilia Approach
The second of our three interconnected member activities as part of The Reggio Children Project 2023, funded by National Pyjama Day is an informative and reflective masterclass to gain a deeper knowledge of the Reggio Emilia Approach, with educators from Reggio Children.
Please note that the masterclass is being run in two locations (Galway and Dublin) but as the planned content is similar, we ask you to kindly register for only one of the dates.
The masterclass is free for both our members and their staff to attend, but registration is essential. Our Dublin event is sold out, but there are still tickets available for our Galway event here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/exploring-the-reggio-emilia-approach-tickets-608555845917
Masterclass in Galway
Date: Thursday, 18 May
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Venue: Atlantic Technological University Galway
Speakers: Claudia Giudici, Reggio Children (with translation from Sara Porpora) and
Dr Rita Melia, Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at ATU
| 18.00-18.30 | Tea and Coffee/Registration for attendees |
| 18.30-18.45 | Welcome and introductions |
| 18.45 -19.05 | Presentation by Dr Rita Melia, Atlantic Technological University “Inspired by the Reggio Approach: Closing the circle, sharing a quality Aistear” |
| 19.05-19.10 | Break |
| 19.10 – 20.10 | Presentation from Claudia Giudici (with translation from Sara Porpora), Reggio Children “In dialogue with the experience of the Infant-toddler Centres and Preschools of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia |
| 20.10-20.30 | Closing remarks and Q&A |
Masterclass in Dublin
Date: Saturday, 20 May
Time: 11.00am – 2.00pm
Venue: The Chocolate Factory, 26 Kings Inn Street, Dublin 1
Speakers: Claudia Giudici, Reggio Children (with translation from Sara Porpora) and
Milica Atanackovic, Membership, Excellence and Learning manager with Early Childhood Ireland
| 10.30-11.00 | Tea and Coffee/Registration for attendees |
| 11.00-11.10 | Welcome and introductions |
| 11.10 – 11.30 | Presentation by Milica Atanackovic, Early Childhood Ireland “The Reggio Emilia Approach: Our journey – seeking meaning and learning together” |
| 11.30 – 12.30 | Presentation by Claudia Giudici (with translation from Sara Porpora), Reggio Children “In dialogue with the experience of the Infant-toddler Centres and Preschools of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia” |
| 12.30 – 12.40 | Break |
| 12.40 – 13.40 | Presentation by Claudia Giudici (continued) |
| 13.40 – 14.00 | Closing remarks and Q&A |
Speakers
Claudia Giudici – Reggio Children
Claudia Giudici a psychologist, is a significant figure in the city of Reggio Emilia’s education system who was in year 2022 appointed by the Regional Government of Emilia Romagna as the regional advocator for children and adolescents. She is also a member of the National Inter-ministry Peer Group for the provision of educational services for children aged 2-3 years. Prior to this she was President of Reggio Children for five years after having been President of the Institute of Preschools and Infant-Toddler Centres of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia from 2009 to 2016.
She has worked as pedagogical co-ordinator of the municipal infant-toddler centres and preschools, and as psycho-pedagogical co-ordinator of Reggio Emilia’s municipal Centre for Documentation and Educational Research of Infant toddler Centres and Preschools.
In her work at Reggio Children Claudia has been responsible for several research projects on the design of educational spaces and areas of teaching practice. She has also been responsible for professional development projects and consulted in the psycho-pedagogy and educational services.
Claudia has co-ordinated research projects like the project on family participation with the University of New Hampshire (USA) and Bicocca University of Milan, and research on the theme of individual and group learning and pedagogical evaluation with Harvard University-Project Zero. She also co-ordinated the research group in Reggio Emilia for the project titled CARE – Curriculum and Quality Analysis and Impact Review of European Early Childhood Education and Care.
She is the author of many articles and curator and editor of exhibitions and publications realised by Reggio Children.
She is Professor in Psycho-pedagogy at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
Dr Rita Melia – Atlantic Technological University
Dr Rita Melia is a lecturer in early childhood education and care at Atlantic Technological University Galway and Mayo. Rita has worked in ECEC in practice, research and policy for over thirty years. As an owner /manager of a full day-care setting, in a variety of roles with Early Childhood Ireland and Tusla Early Years Inspectorate.
Rita was instrumental in developing partnerships for Early Childhood Ireland’s membership of Reggio Children International network and she was the first representative of the network 2009-2018. Having travelled and engaged in study visits and studied the Approach in depth, Rita has presented both nationally and internationally on the Reggio approach. Rita represented the Reggio Children International Network as a keynote speaker at the Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance conference 2013 and in Istanbul 2015.
Rita undertook a month’s study visit to Reggio-inspired preschools in Australia in 2014, supported by REAIE. By extending her PhD research to Boston MA 2016/2017 to include Reggio-inspired schools, Rita was supported by NAREA while she was a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard Graduate School of Education under the sponsorship of Professor Howard Gardner. The basis of Rita’s work is “your image of the child is where teaching begins” (Malaguzzi 1994).
Milica Atanackovic – Early Childhood Ireland
Milica Atanackovic is a Membership, Excellence, and Learning manager with Early Childhood Ireland and the Early Childhood Ireland Representative: Reggio Children International Partner. Her background in the early years is rooted in a passionate interest in Creative Arts. Milica studied Design Communication before moving into Early Childhood Care and Education, working for ten years in Australia. Considering continuous professional learning as a critical element of quality in the early years, Milica has worked as an Educator, Service Manager, and Trainer. She also combines experience from a range of creative disciplines in her work.
More info:
Please email all queries in relation to the Reggio Children project 2023, funded by National Pyjama Day to reggio@earlychildhoodireland.ie
