This document provides an overview of early childhood education in Italy presented by a group of students. It includes an agenda, information on the philosophy of emergent curriculum based on the Reggio Emilia approach, the history of childcare development in Italy and Ontario, roles and training of early childhood educators in Italy, and types of childcare systems. The philosophy emphasizes teacher-child collaboration, parental involvement, and curriculum emerging from children's interests within a supportive learning environment.

1. GLOBAL CHILD CARE:
ITALY
ECEP 104 - 062
A Group Presentation By: Cinzia, Elizabeth,
Jianfeng, Sadaf,
Sonia and Youngsil
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2. Benvenuto - Welcome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JsdiTiowGM
Numbers Song in Italian – Canzone dei Numeri
Please Enjoy Your Italian Treat
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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. PHILOSOP
Located in Northern Italy, Reggio …
HY
Emergent curriculum "first appeared
Emilia is the birthplace to Italy's in the 1970's" (page 52: Essentials of
innovative approach to Early Childhood Early Childhood Education)
Education. The signature educational
philosophy was started by Loris "Emergent curriculum is an
Malaguzzi (a teacher) and the village approach that encourages early
parents in Reggio Emilia after World childhood practitioners to really
War II. respond to their immediate
surroundings - physical place and
people - and guide children's natural
Malaguzzi based his theory on Dewey,
curiosity about their environment to
Piaget and Vygotsky: "Learning occurs
encourage learning" (page 52:
through relationships and interactions. Essentials of Early Childhood
Learning is continuous and emergent" Education). In Ontario, the emergent
(week 3 class notes, ECEP 104). 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
“There are no set materials. These are emerging 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
discover in a supportive and enriching emergent curriculum is on in-depth
projects to facilitate learning.
environment based on their interests. 4

5. PHILOSOP
HY:
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).
Teachers "develop plans with the
Parents are a vital component to Italy's
children for assisting the learning
education philosophy, viewed as
experiences" (week 3 class notes, ECEP
partners and advocates for their
104).
children. Parents are expected to take
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
childhood educators and families feel a custom-designed for each early
sense of well-being" (page 87: Essentials childhood program" (page 55: Essentials
of Early Childhood Education, quote of Early Childhood Education).
from Loris Malaguzzi).
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6. History of Italy’s Childcare
• 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). 6

7. History of Ontario’s Childcare
• 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.
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8. - Plan activities and lessons - Planned program by
based on the child’s interest. observing the children or
They also interact with the documentation.
Role children and not sitting back
s just to observe.
- Both teachers and students - Co-construct the child’s
participate together on a project knowledge and goals
to make sure that the child Teacher nurtures the children’s
ROL understands what is being
taught.
play from birth to 5 years old.
ES - Observe the children in order - Working in groups along with
AN for them to create a curriculum activities done individually with
and have it implemented. each child.
D
Roles
TR - Work with children to help
them achieve their goals.
- Observing classroom and
children.
AIN Teacher nurtures the children’s
play from ages 6 months to 6
ING years old.

9. Train - Requires a 3 year course to - Varies from 2 semester
ing teach children under the age of programs to 3 or 4 year degree
three as the basis. programs to take care of
children.
ROL - Infant and Toddler centres do
not require one to have post
- Requires post secondary
training, along with CPR and first
ES secondary training, but for a aid in order to work in childcare
childcare centre for the ages of centres.
AN 28 months to 6 years of age you
D require a 5 year degree.
Training
TR
AIN
ING

10. Types of Childcare Systems
PUBLIC PRIVATE INFORMAL LICENSED
Accepting ages Not open to the Not owned by law. Learning and healthy
3-5. public. development
provided.
95% of children It’s more
attended public expensive and Provided by friends, Constantly inspected
services. overpriced. relatives, neighbors or and monitored by
nannies. Ministry of children
Only for low income Timing depends on
and youth services.
families. child’s care.
Initiated by law
Accepted depends Fewer children
reaching the
on family size and than public
standards of care.
income. childcare systems.
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11. ACCESSIBILITY 11
Italy:
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.
Ontario:
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
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).
italy 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
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
onta
rio AVAILABILITY IN ONTARIO

16. CROSSWORD TIME!
5 MINS!!!
5 minu
tes!
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17. PUB L I C
Crossword..
N
V
L O
I NFORMAL
C V
RE SPE C E
N M
TS
NI NE T
E N
D
Y
P R IVA T
E
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18. SUMMARY
CHILD CARE IN ITALY CHILD CARE IN ONTARIO
The educational philosophy was started by Curriculum is built and based on the
Loris Malaguzzi (a teacher) and the village principles of respect, responsibility and
parents in Reggio Emilia after World War II. community.
Teachers are considered as co-learners and Teachers brainstorm as a team, and are true
collaborators with children - much more than partners with children and their families in
just an instructor. the educational process.
At the end of World War II, there was urging During World War II, the Dominion Provincial
to bring change and create new schools for War Time Agreement shared 50% of the
their young children. cost to support childcare programs for
mothers who worked in industries.
In 1967 all the preschools were transferred
to the city government thanks to a famous Only Ontario and Quebec agreed to the
group at the time, the union of Italian women federal cost sharing, but only a number of
(also called the U.D.I.) childcare centers opened in Ontario, with the
majority in Toronto.
Work with children to help them achieve
their goals. Co-construct the child’s knowledge and
goals
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19. SUMMARY
CHILD CARE IN ITALY CHILD CARE IN ONTARIO
Teacher nurtures the children’s play from Teacher nurtures the children’s play from
ages 6 months to 6 years old. birth to 5 years old.
Requires a 3 year course to teach children Varies from 2 semester programs to 3 or 4
under the age of three as the basis. year degree programs to take care of
children.
Free of charge and full-time coverage for
over 90% of children between the ages of 3 Free public school service available to all
and 6 in 2006. children at age four and five for half-days or
full-days.
For children 3-6 years of age, child care
centers are free and available to all children For children under 3 years of age, daycare
subsidies are available .
Most child care centers for children under 3
years of age are nonprofit. Most child care centers for children under 3
years old are nonprofit. Only a small
percentage of child care centres are
privately run businesses.
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20. We thank you for your time!
GOODBYE!
Ciao !
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21. BIBLIOGRAPHY
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
us.asp?people=Loris%20Malaguzzi
New, Rebecca Staples, and Moncrieff
Cochran. Early Childhood Education: an
http://reggiochildrenfoundation.org/?page_i
International Encyclopedia. Westport,
d=605&lang=en
Conn., Praeger Publishers, 2007. Print.
Slide 2 Photo: E. Brikman, March 16, 2013
Week 3 Power Point Class Notes
Cox: ECEP 104-062 Slide 16 Photo: Flickr via Behold
DSC_5521 (aka Italian Newspaper)
Childcarepolicy.net/documents/ By: Luc de Schepper, May 29, 2006
WinnipegPaper.pdf
Slide 18 Photo: Flickr via Behold
www.tariki.hu/en/research/childpoverty/ “Ah, Venezia” (aka Gondola)
case_studies/childpoverty_italy.pdf By: Shawnoula, March 25, 2005
Italian Numbers Song found on YouTube
www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/20218/1
/dp983.pdf
Crossword created by S. Sukhoo
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