3. ITALY AGENDA
Introduction (Elizabeth)
Treats (Cinzia and Sonia)
Philosophy (Elizabeth)
History (Sadaf)
ECE Roles and Training (Cinzia)
Child Care Systems (Sonia)
Accessibility (Youngsil)
Availability (Jianfeng)
Crossword Puzzle (Jianfeng)
Summary (Sadaf)
Bibliography
4. Located in Northern Italy, Reggio Emilia Emergent curriculum "first appeared
is the birthplace to Italy's innovative in the 1970's" (page 52: Essentials of
approach to Early Childhood Education. Early Childhood Education)
The signature educational philosophy
was started by Loris Malaguzzi (a "Emergent curriculum is an approach
teacher) and the village parents in that encourages early childhood
Reggio Emilia after World War II. practitioners to really respond to their
immediate surroundings - physical
Malaguzzi based his theory on Dewey, place and people - and guide
children's natural curiosity about their
Piaget and Vygotsky: "Learning occurs
environment to encourage learning"
through relationships and interactions.
(page 52: Essentials of Early
Learning is continuous and emergent" Childhood Education). In Ontario, the
(week 3 class notes, ECEP 104). emergent curriculum is based on the
Reggio Emilia approach.
Curriculum is built and based on the
principles of respect, responsibility and Curriculum is based on the cues of
community. the children (including their interests
and development of emerging
“There are no set materials. These are ideas).
gathered as projects are determined
and started” (week 3 class notes, ECEP There is freedom within the learning
104). Children are free to explore and structure. The emphasis for emergent
discover in a supportive and enriching curriculum is on in-depth projects to
environment based on their interests. facilitate learning.
5. Teachers are considered as co-learners Teachers brainstorm as a team, and are
and collaborators with children - much "true partners with children and their
more than just an instructor. families in the educational process"
(week 3 PP class notes, ECEP 104).
Parents are a vital component to Italy's Teachers "develop plans with the
education philosophy, viewed as children for assisting the learning
partners and advocates for their experiences" (week 3 class notes, ECEP
children. Parents are expected to take 104).
part in discussions about school policy,
curriculum planning, and evaluation. Parental involvement in a child's learning
is encouraged.
"We strive to create an amiable early
childhood setting where children, early "The most effective curriculum is custom-
childhood educators and families feel a designed for each early childhood
sense of well-being" (page 87: Essentials program" (page 55: Essentials of Early
of Early Childhood Education, quote from Childhood Education).
Loris Malaguzzi).
6. • At the end of World War II, there was
urging to bring change and create new
schools for their young children.
• In 1967 all the preschools were transferred
to the city government thanks to a famous
group at the time, the union of Italian
women (also called the U.D.I.)
• The founder of Early Childhood Education
system was Loris Malaguzzi who created this
system by the need to women returning to
work force.
• By 1980’s the Reggio Emilia philosophy of Early Childhood Education became known in Italy
and internationally.
• Since 2004 there was a fast network of services created to make it possible for families who are
requesting a place in child care.
• Statistics show that profit and non-profit facilities have 1600 children attending infant- toddler
centres, 40% from birth to three years (highest percentage in Italy), and 90% three to six years
attend preschools (about 3500 children).
7. • During World War II, the Dominion
Provincial War Time Agreement shared 50%
of the cost to support childcare programs
for mothers who worked in industries.
• Only Ontario and Quebec agreed to the
federal cost sharing, but only a number of
childcare centers opened in Ontario, with
the majority in Toronto.
• After the World War II, the federal
government took back the cost sharing
agreement and federal funding for child
care in Ontario, and announced that all
the day nurseries were to be closed.
• City of Toronto maintained to be open, and re-opened centers due to public pressure that was
organized by Toronto base nursery and day care Parents Association.
• In 1946 Toronto was the first province to establish the Day Nursery Act.
• In 1966 Canada established the Canada Assistance Plan; there was subsidies
for families that qualify.
8. - Plan activities and lessons - Planned program by
based on the child’s observing the children or
interest. They also interact documentation.
with the children and not
Roles
sitting back just to observe.
- Both teachers and - Co-construct the child’s
students participate knowledge and goals
together on a project to Teacher nurtures the
make sure that the child children’s play from birth to
understands what is being 5 years old.
taught.
- Observe the children in - Working in groups along
order for them to create a with activities done
curriculum and have it individually with each child.
implemented.
Roles
- Work with children to help - Observing classroom and
them achieve their goals. children.
Teacher nurtures the
children’s play from ages 6
months to 6 years old.
9. Training - Requires a 3 year course to - Varies from 2 semester
teach children under the programs to 3 or 4 year
age of three as the basis. degree programs to take
care of children.
- Infant and Toddler centres - Requires post secondary
do not require one to have training, along with CPR and
post secondary training, but first aid in order to work in
for a childcare centre for the childcare centres.
ages of 28 months to 6 years
of age you require a 5 year
Training
degree.
10. Accepting ages Not open to the Not owned by law. Learning and
3-5. public. healthy
development
95% of children It’s more provided.
attended public expensive and Provided by Constantly
services. overpriced. friends, relatives, inspected and
Only for low Timing depends neighbors or monitored by
income families. on child’s care. nannies. Ministry of children
and youth services.
Accepted Fewer children Initiated by law
depends on than public reaching the
family size and childcare standards of care.
income. systems.
11. o Free of charge and full-time coverage for over 90%
of children between the ages of 3 and 6 in 2006.
o Example : Regions like Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna
during the past 30 years, have invested highly in
early childhood education.
o Free public school service available to all children at
age four and five for half-days or full-days.
o Example : Child care (centres, family homes, nursery
schools, and preschools) are licensed and
regulated, but there is only minor government
financial support of these services.
12. 1. For children 3-6 years of age, child
care centers are free and available to all
children .
2. For children under 3 years of age, it
varies in different regions.
3. Most child care centers for children
under 3 years of age are nonprofit.
Government
Municipal
Religious
Private
AVAILABILITY IN ITALY
13. • Child care opportunities are limited and a large
proportion of parents use informal care to take care of
their children. The limitations of childcare opportunities
concern both availability and costs.
• In terms of availability, Public childcare is also more
expensive than in other countries. Public subsidy
accounts for about 80% of the total cost in Italy. Private
childcare is also more expensive, about 30% more than
public childcare (Del Boca, Locatelli and Vuri 2005).
AVAILABILITY IN ITALY
14. • An increasing demand for more flexible and longer
hours of care. The priority in public childcare waiting lists
depends on the working status of parents, family
composition and type, and children’s health. The length
of waiting lists is indicated by the fact that for every 100
applications, 33 are registered on a waiting list (Del Boca
Locatelli and Vuri 2005).
•The small proportion of young children using childcare
is not only because of a lack of availability or the
relatively high costs. As the World Values Survey shows,
Italian mothers are those most convinced that young
children are better off being looked after by their mother.
AVAILABILITY IN ITALY
15. 1. Kindergarten is free for children 4 and 5
years of age.
2. For children under 3 years of age, daycare
subsidies are available .
3. Most child care centers for children under 3
years old are nonprofit.
Child care centers
Nursery school and preschool
Regulated family child care
Early childhood intervention
AVAILABILITY IN ONTARIO
17. PUB L I C
N
V
L O
I NFORMAL
C V
RE SPE C T E
N M
S NI NE T Y
E N
D P R IVA T E
18. CHILD CARE IN ITALY CHILD CARE IN ONTARIO
The educational philosophy was Curriculum is built and based on the
started by Loris Malaguzzi (a teacher) principles of respect, responsibility and
and the village parents in Reggio Emilia community.
after World War II.
Teachers brainstorm as a team, and
Teachers are considered as co-learners are true partners with children and their
and collaborators with children - much families in the educational process.
more than just an instructor.
During World War II, the Dominion
At the end of World War II, there was Provincial War Time Agreement shared
urging to bring change and create 50% of the cost to support childcare
new schools for their young children. programs for mothers who worked in
industries.
In 1967 all the preschools were
transferred to the city government Only Ontario and Quebec agreed to
thanks to a famous group at the time, the federal cost sharing, but only a
the union of Italian women (also called number of childcare centers opened in
the U.D.I.) Ontario, with the majority in Toronto.
Work with children to help them Co-construct the child’s knowledge
achieve their goals. and goals
19. CHILD CARE IN ITALY CHILD CARE IN ONTARIO
Teacher nurtures the children’s play Teacher nurtures the children’s play
from ages 6 months to 6 years old. from birth to 5 years old.
Requires a 3 year course to teach Varies from 2 semester programs to 3 or
children under the age of three as the 4 year degree programs to take care
basis. of children.
Free of charge and full-time coverage Free public school service available to
for over 90% of children between the all children at age four and five for
ages of 3 and 6 in 2006. half-days or full-days.
For children 3-6 years of age, child care For children under 3 years of age,
centers are free and available to all daycare subsidies are available .
children
Most child care centers for children
Most child care centers for children under 3 years old are nonprofit. Only a
under 3 years of age are nonprofit. small percentage of child care centres
are privately run businesses.
20.
21. Gestwicki, Carol, and Jane Bertrand. www.toronto.ca/children/quality.htm
Essentials of Early Childhood Education. cademia.edu/1488418/Early_Childcare_in_Italy
4th Canadian ed. Toronto: Thomson Nelson, _path_dependency_and_new_needs
2012. Print.
http://www.poemhunter.com/quotations/famo
New, Rebecca Staples, and Moncrieff us.asp?people=Loris%20Malaguzzi
Cochran. Early Childhood Education: an
International Encyclopedia. Westport, http://reggiochildrenfoundation.org/?page_i
Conn., Praeger Publishers, 2007. Print. d=605&lang=en
Week 3 Power Point Class Notes Slide 2 Photo: E. Brikman, March 16, 2013
Cox: ECEP 104-062
Slide 16 Photo: Flickr via Behold
Childcarepolicy.net/documents/ DSC_5521 (aka Italian Newspaper)
WinnipegPaper.pdf By: Luc de Schepper, May 29, 2006
www.tariki.hu/en/research/childpoverty/ Slide 18 Photo: Flickr via Behold
case_studies/childpoverty_italy.pdf “Ah, Venezia” (aka Gondola)
By: Shawnoula, March 25, 2005
www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/20218/1
/dp983.pdf Italian Numbers Song found on YouTube
Crossword created by S. Sukhoo
