Working For Inclusion

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• The child as protagonist
• Working with diversity
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Working with the child as an active agent in their own learning

Project partner leading on this theme:

La Bottega Di Gepetto, San Miniato, Italy

www.bottegadigeppetto.it

About San Miniato and its services

Miniato is a town and comune (local authority) in the very heart of Italy's Tuscan region with a population of just over 26,000. The town prides itself on its proactive responsibility for families and younger children. Deeply influenced by the pioneering work of Loris Malaguzzi in Reggio Emilia, education services for early childhood in San Miniato represent an original and autonomous interpretation of the most interesting perspectives on childhood education. San Miniato administrators consider young children as valued citizens, competent and active learners in their own right. Growing and learning are considered to be collaborative and open processes involving children, educators, parents and then the physical context of opportunities.

San Miniato's services provide valuable insight into how a set of strong core values can drive service development and delivery. The central guiding concept is that of the child as a competent and active human being - in contrast with a focus on protecting children perceived as being in need or even at risk. There is a very strong understanding that a child who is "in charge" of their own learning is in no way predictable, and San Miniato's teaching practices in its early years services reflect this by offering children a system of stimulating and open opportunities.

For further information email: segreteria@bottegadigeppetto.it

Discussion questions:

• What does the child as ‘active agent in their own development and learning mean’?
• What are the consequences for curriculum, practice, outcomes?
• What qualities, values and ethics does it require of the workforce? What are the implications for workforce roles, qualifications and development?
• What examples – historically and contemporaneously – are there of such work? What theories and theorists can give inspiration for working in this way?

Activities and outcomes

The study visit and national conference (Culture of Children) in San Miniato took place in May 2009, hosted by La Bottega Di Geppetto. 

• Reports are available on the Working For Inclusion community webspace and here

Contact:
Sandra Mitchell
Project co-ordinator
0131 222 2430
Sandra Mitchell

Project Director:
Bronwen Cohen

Senior Admin Asst:
Kath Paterson