STUDY GROUP - April 2024 to Reggio Emilia

Dates: Sunday 14 April to Friday 19 April 2024

Venue: Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, Reggio Emilia

Category: Study Tour

The cost of the 2024 April Study Group is:

$3950.00AUD – Deposit required $950.00AUD per person

Click here to download further information.

Click here for full Terms and Conditions.

Please click here to email REAIE if you would like to discuss payment plan options.

Registrations have now closed

Program Description

The Municipal early childhood programs in Reggio Emilia, Northern Italy, for children aged three months to six years, are internationally acclaimed for the inspirations, challenges, and provocations they provide for all those concerned with the care and education of young children. Founded and developed by educational theorist, Loris Malaguzzi, the schools demonstrate a distinctive and innovative curriculum and pedagogy as well as a method of school organisation which recognises the potential of young children to question, reflect, problem-solve, theorise and experiment.

The schools in Reggio Emilia demonstrate, by making children’s learning visible, that children are capable of devising creative ways of knowing, understanding and making connections and meaning. There is a particular emphasis on the role of the environment, both social and physical, and the cultural, geographic, political, economic and historical experiences of Reggio Emilia are incorporated into learnings. This history, combined with the theories, ideas and practices in the schools are always changing and evolving, meaning that the schools cannot provide a model for practice in Australia. Accordingly, they offer an inspiration for our own thinking and practice.

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The Study Program

The study program will commence on Sunday 14 April with a meeting of the Australian delegation at the Astoria Hotel at 1.30pm.

The program will then continue on Monday 15 April at the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, which is within walking distance from the Astoria Hotel or a short taxi ride. The program concludes on the evening of Friday 19 April. Click here for information about how to get around Reggio Emilia.

Lectures will be in either English or Italian. An interpreter will be available whenever the Italian language is to be used.

The study program fee will include:

• • -the organisation of the program by Reggio Children
  • -presentations by and meetings with pedagogistas, teachers, administrators and parents;
  • -visits to Infant Toddler Centres and Preschools of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia only and exclusively if the health conditions in force in Italy at the time of the visit allow it, together with the authorisation decided and issued by the Preschools and Infant-toddler centres – Istituzione of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia;
  • -a folder for each participant with information materials concerning the town of Reggio Emilia, its municipal infant toddler-centre and preschool experience and Reggio Children;
  • -Italian-English consecutive interpreters when required by the program;
  • -private bus transportation from and to the centers in Reggio Emilia if and as required by the program;
  • -coffee breaks;
  • -5 lunches at PAUSE;
  • -Two Study Group Leaders from REAIE will accompany the group;
  • -Late afternoon ‘get togethers’ will be organised with the Study Group Leaders and REAIE participants;
  • -Study Group Leaders are ‘on call’ throughout the Study Group to assist REAIE participants.

Full program details will be emailed to participants shortly before departure.

There will be an online opportunity for delegates to meet each other and the Study Group Leaders. This will be held approximately one month prior to departure.

Reading materials are provided to participants prior to departure from Australia to assist with preparation for the Study Group and to facilitate learning.

General travel advice and tips are given to the group prior to departure from Australia.

REAIE’s Operational Team are available for any questions or concerns in the lead up to the tour’s departure and to answer any queries while you are away.

PLEASE NOTE: Delegates must not photograph and/or videotape inside the infant-toddler centres and preschools of Reggio Emilia. Additionally, photos or videos must not be taken of the presentations as well as of the panels and videos inside the Exhibition area and the Atelier at the International Centre Loris Malaguzzi.

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Travelling to Italy

Delegates are to make their own travel arrangements. The Study Tour Leaders will be traveling with Qantas and Emirates Airlines arranged through DQ International Travel Service. Departure is available from all Australian capital cities on Tuesday 9 April 2024 and travel via Dubai (where delegates can meet up) and then on to Bologna.

If you are travelling independently, it is recommended that participants arrive no later than Saturday 13 April 2024. To contact DQ International Travel Service, please call Damian Quirk 03 9614 4588 or email travel@dqinternational.com.au. Damian is also able to organise travel with other airlines and incorporate other travel arrangements and tours. When deciding how best to book your travel, please consider that booking through a travel agent means that any issues that may arise before or during your travel will have the assistance of an agent.

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Accommodation

A block booking of accommodation has been made at the Astoria Hotel situated in the centre of the city. To organise accommodation at the conference rate at the Astoria Hotel, bookings must be made through Damian Quirk at DQ International Travel Service. This is regardless of how your flight arrangements have been made. Please contact Damian as soon as your registration has been confirmed if you wish to stay with the Australian delegation. When contacting Damian to obtain a quote please ensure you include the following information: actual travel plans, dates and destinations, a scanned copy of your passport, best contact details, including residential address and mobile number and any frequent flyer information. For accommodation enquiries please ensure you note single, twin share or double. Please do not contact the hotel directly.

The costs quoted are per room and include bed and breakfast.

If two people are sharing a room the costs will be divided.

All rooms have their own bathrooms.

Single Room: 1 person only approx €121.50 per night (Price will be confirmed on booking and is subject to currency fluctuation)

Double or twin room: 1 or 2 persons approx €152.50 per night (Price will be confirmed on booking and is subject to currency fluctuation)

Please note: It is not possible to triple-share a room except for a family with a child under seven years of age.

There are limited single rooms available. These will be allocated on a first come, first served basis for those staying for the 10 nights. If you wish to have a single room after this period, you will need to book and pay for a double room. You will be notified of this on booking.

This booking is valid until 31 October – please contact Damian Quirk at DQ International Travel Service 03 9614 4588 or email travel@dqinternational.com.au

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Insurance

Reggio Children and REAIE require all participants have taken out:

• – an individual insurance policy for accidents of any type in which they may occur during the Initiative. Reggio Children will provide for the participants an insurance for damages caused to people or things inside the municipal institutions;
• – an individual insurance policy covering medical/hospital and/or hospitalisation expenses, as well as travel, board and accommodation for any additional day spent in Italy, in the event of any general health problems and/or any health emergencies that may arise in situ.

Travel insurance is available from DQ International Travel Service on application.

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Optional Extras:

REAIE will organise a bus from Bologna Airport to the Astoria Hotel, Reggio Emilia on Wednesday 10 April 2024 and from the Astoria Hotel, Reggio Emilia to Bologna Airport on Saturday 20 April 2024. Australian delegates and accompanying persons are also invited to travel on these buses.

There will be an additional charge for these transfers. Further information will be sent out once your registration has been received.

Day trips to Florence and Venice

• • – Cultural days in different parts of Italy prior to the commencement of the Study Week, assist the participants with meeting and forming bonds with the REAIE Study Group, and becoming more familiar with the diversity and history of Italy. REAIE will offer two, one day trips by bus. The Study Group Leaders accompany the participants on these trips.
  • – REAIE will organise a bus transfer to Venice on Thursday 11 April 2024 and to Florence on Saturday 13 April, 2024. Australian delegates and accompanying persons are also invited to participate in these bus transfers.
  • – Participants will be free to explore the cities of Venice and Florence. Guided tours are not included. Please click on the links for further information about Venice, http://en.turismovenezia.it/ and Florence http://www.firenzeturismo.it/en/
  • – We strongly recommend these trips as a way of settling into the group and for getting to know one another before the intensive study program begins. Delegates on past Study Groups have commented that they hadn’t realised how much the quality of their study week would depend on feeling part the group – and how important the bus trips were for getting to know each other.
  • – Details and costs will be sent out once your registration has been received.

Optional Farewell Dinner

There will be an optional farewell dinner for the Australian delegation on Friday 19 April 2024 at a venue to be confirmed, at an additional cost. Further details will be sent out with the day trip information once deposits have been received.