Brightest Start Early Learning Centre Bankstown

Through the world-renowned Reggio Emilia approach, we are providing collaborative, accessible and community-connected learning at our BSELC locations.

The Reggio Emilia system is an innovative and inspiring approach to early childhood education and values each child as strong, capable, resilient and rich with wonder and knowledge. Every child brings with them deep curiosity and potential and this innate curiosity drives their interest to understand their world and their place within it. We work within this framework and mentor and guide the children on their learning journey.

The Reggio Emilia philosophy is based upon the following set of principles:

• Children must have some control over the direction of their learning
• Children must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, and observing
• Children have a relationship with other children and with material items in the world that children must be allowed to explore
• Children must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves

This approach puts the natural development of children as well as the close relationships that they share with their environment at the centre of its philosophy. The foundation of the Reggio Emilia approach lies in its unique view of the child. In this approach, there is a belief that children have rights and should be given opportunities to develop their potential.

Rather than being seen as the target of instruction, children are seen as having the active role of an apprentice. This role also extends to that of a researcher. Much of the instruction via our Reggio Emilia approach takes place in the form of projects where the children have opportunities to explore, observe, hypothesize, question, and discuss to clarify their understanding.

Children are also viewed as social beings and a focus is made on the child in relation to other children, the family, the teachers, and the community rather than on each child in isolation.

At BSELC and via Reggio Emilia, our educators are considered a co-learner and collaborator with the child and not just an instructor. Our educators are encouraged to facilitate the child’s learning by planning activities and lessons based on the child’s interests, asking questions to further understanding, and actively engaging in the activities alongside the child, instead of sitting back and observing the child learning.