The Art of Play: Learning from Top Preschool Practices

The field of early childhood and preschool education is constantly evolving, and it's crucial for preschool teachers to keep up with the new trends and stay on the cutting edge. This training course for preschool teachers will be a stepping stone to explore the main principles, features and benefits of the best approaches to preschool education.
The new edition of the course “The best for preschool teachers​” took place in Palermo from 02/06/2024 to 08/06/2024. The participants came from all across Europe, with Joyce, Natasja and Kaat from Vrije Basisschool Sint-Lucia Oelegem in Belgium; Iza and Heidi from Osnovna šola Rudolfa Maistra Šentilj in Slovenia and Stina, Madeleine, Erika, Denise and Nina from Luleå Kommun Förskola in Sweden.

The course began with some engaging activities designed to get to know each other and share expectations and contributions. The teachers discussed effective preschool pedagogical practices and were also given the opportunity to present their schools, giving a broad overview of preschool education from different regions of Europe.
The next day we continued to discover the Italian preschool experience by having the great opportunity to visit a Montessori inspired school in Palermo, a philosophy and pedagogy developed by Maria Montessori in the early 20th century. We were given a guided tour of the school and, by observing the authentic environments and materials, we gained practical and experiential insights into this approach, which were later discussed and enriched in the course.
We also explored the principles and theories of non-formal education. To better understand this method, we engaged in a variety of activities and games. These interactive sessions illustrated the value of non-formal education in developing creativity, social skills and early problem-solving abilities.
Continuing our exploration, we visited an ecological institution with a school and a pre-school section in Palermo. This experience allowed us to observe innovative and sustainable school environments. We were shown around the inspiring classrooms and learning spaces by a passionate teacher and watched children engage in their activities and saw the wonder of learning in their eyes. It was then time to add some activities in the topic of Outdoor Education. We headed to a nearby park where we engaged in various activities designed to help us experience and connect with nature.
On the final day, the focus shifted to the Reggio Emilia approach. Teachers had the opportunity to delve deeper into the history, materials, projects and experiences that make this pedagogical philosophy so unique and effective. Through discussion and participants' own practice, we explored how the Reggio Emilia approach promotes self-directed, experiential learning in a supportive and enriching environment.
The week arrived to an end and it was time for the teachers to come back home with a luggage full or memories and experiences.
Discover more about this course here.