The Princess of Wales visits Italy to explore Reggio Emilia’s internationally recognised approach to early childhood.
On Wednesday 13 May, The Princess of Wales visited Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy as part of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood’s work to explore leading international approaches to early childhood development.
The visit focused on Reggio Emilia’s internationally recognised approach to early childhood education, which places relationships, environment and community at the centre of a child’s development. Conversations with civic leaders explored the city’s history and the cultural and educational circumstances that led to the development of the Reggio Emilia Approach. The Princess was joined by key figures who played a role in shaping the philosophy, offering an opportunity to see first‑hand the strong civic engagement that underpins the city’s educational identity.
At the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, the principal hub for the promotion and teaching of the Reggio Emilia Approach, Her Royal Highness learned more about the philosophy and principles that underpin this globally respected educational model. Opened in 2006, the Centre serves as a meeting point for researchers, teachers and families, promoting children’s rights and fostering creativity, documentation and educational research. Core concepts explored during the visit included the approach’s manifesto, the idea of the “hundred languages” of learning, and the central role of ateliers and atelieristas.
The Princess took part in an immersive clay atelier, highlighting the unique contribution of atelieristas as specialist artist‑educators and one of the defining features of the Reggio Emilia Approach. Atelieristas guide children to express themselves and explore the world through paint, clay, movement, shadow, sound and play, helping them to remain connected to themselves and the world around them. The visit also reflected the approach’s global reach, with educators regularly travelling from around the world to learn from Reggio Emilia’s pre‑schools and infant‑toddler centres.
Later, The Princess visited the Scuola Comunale d’Infanzia Anna Frank to see how the Reggio Emilia Approach supports early childhood development in practice, with particular emphasis on creativity, relationships and the learning environment. The municipal pre‑school places strong value on learning through creativity and relationships, reflecting the core principles of the approach. Teachers and parents shared how this model supports children’s development and has a wider impact on the local community.
