Learn and discover, the world of preschool from the Spanish experience

Preschool education is constantly evolving and it is crucial for preschool teachers to keep up with new trends and discover different systems across Europe. This training course for preschool teachers served as a starting point to explore the basic principles, characteristics and advantages of different preschool approaches, especially in this case from a Spanish point of view.

The new edition of the course “The best for preschool teachers​” took place in Tenerife from 15/10/2023  till 21/10/2023. The participants came from all across Europe, with Christian, Laila, Nabiil, Andreas from Nävergårdens förskola in Sweden and Kirsti and Carlos from Tallinn European School in Estonia.

The course started with activities and dynamics to help everyone get to know each other and discuss what they expected and could bring to the training. Teachers also had the opportunity to talk about their schools, which helped everyone to learn more about preschool education in Europe.

After a explanation of the Spanish system, the teachers and the course trainer went to CEIP Aguamansa to visit the school, where a teacher guided us through the centre's wonderful exhibitions. The teachers had the opportunity to learn more about the the materials, the projects and the experiences, and to discover their methodology based on competences, learning by doing and through projects, cooperative work, social-emotional intelligence and creativity.

During our visit to a local nursery, Matilde Telez, we saw first-hand how the education system is changing the way we educate our students, especially in Spain where this service starts at 6 months old. Afterwards, we reflected on the best practices as preschool teachers, not only with the best teaching methods, but also how to set up the environment and relationships with the community and families.

Next on the agenda was a visit to immerse ourselves in the world of outdoor education. Our destination was Al Aire, a free school where we had the opportunity to explore their unique learning spaces. Here we watched children play creatively in the mud and saw the spark of wonder in their eyes as they connected with their natural surroundings. It underlined the growing social need to reconnect our children with the authentic and tangible world, and the potential educational benefits, especially in fostering environmental awareness and respect. 

Finally, we entered the theoretical world of innovative teaching methods in the field of pre-school education and discovered two of the most important theories: Montessori and Reggio Emilia. The group delved into the methods through a presentation of images of authentic Montessori and Reggio Emilia environments and materials, which was the starting point for discovering the methods in a practical and experiential way.

As the week drew to a close, it was time for the teachers to return home and reflect on the experience.

Discover more about this course here.