Princess Of Wales In Italy To Explore ‘Reggio Emilia’ Approach

The Princess of Wales is on a fact-finding mission in Italy this week, with a view to learn more about the globally-recognised Reggio Emilia approach to early years education.

It is her first official foreign trip since being diagnosed with cancer two years ago. Back in January this year, Princess Catherine shared the news she was “cancer-free” after undergoing chemotherapy.

Her Italy visit forms part of her work with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which she founded in 2021.

So, what is the Reggio Emilia approach? And why is it of interest to the Princess? Here’s a quick breakdown…

This is a child-centred approach to early years education where kids are put in the driver’s seat, and given the autonomy to construct their own learning.

Rather than following a strict, set curriculum, much of what is learned happens through experience and hands-on exploration of their interests, which is guided by an adult.

The approach was developed after the Second World War in the Italian town of the same name. It was founded by the late Loris Malaguzzi, a teacher who emphasised the importance of child-directed learning, creativity and social interaction.

Per The Voice Of Early Childhood, Malaguzzi “advocated for a learning environment that respects and nurtures [children’s] natural curiosity and interests”.

There’s a real focus on collaboration and learning by experience, as well as exploring the arts, music and movement.

Malaguzzi believed that a child has 100 languages to express themselves. His 100 languages poem – which the Princess will learn about as part of her trip – centres around children possessing infinite ways to express, explore, and connect their thoughts, feelings and creativity.

This might be through reading and writing, or it could be through sculpting, painting, drawing, dancing, singing, cooking, gardening, etc.

One study suggested that people who were taught this approach in the early years had “significantly” improved outcomes related to employment, socio-emotional skills, high school graduation, election participation, and obesity, compared to those who didn’t receive formal early years care.

However, comparisons with people who attended alternative forms of childcare didn’t show any “strong patterns of positive and significant effects”.

She’s speaking to educators and practitioners about the key concepts of the Reggio Emilia approach, and how it supports children’s social and emotional development. She’ll also be seeing the early years philosophy in action.

In 2023, she launched an awareness raising campaign, called Shaping Us, to increase public understanding of the importance of the first five years of a child’s life. Its aim is to make early childhood development “one of the most strategically important topics of our time”.

The campaign is spearheaded by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which found one in three (36%) adults report knowing just a little or nothing about how children develop in their early childhood. Yet almost three-quarters (70%) of people believe early childhood should be a greater priority for society.

A spokesperson for The Princess told CNN she is “keen to explore further how globally we can identify positive, hopeful solutions to address some of today’s toughest social challenges, by investing in the extraordinary impact of early childhood and prioritising the early years with the same urgency as climate change”.