| There are different approaches to educating | | | | It also gives children opportunities to explore |
| pre-schoolers that the nurseries in Croydon follow. | | | | different endless ways to express themselves |
| Each approach has its own specialty. There are three | | | | Waldorf education |
| major approaches that are prevalent in nurseries in | | | | This educational philosophy was originally developed |
| Croydon: the Reggio Emilia Approach, the Waldorf | | | | by an Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, who is also |
| approach, and the Montessori approach. We will now | | | | the founder of anthroposophy. This approach |
| look at the unique aspects of each of these teaching | | | | emphasizes on the role of the imagination of a child |
| styles. | | | | and allows it to develop which enhances the |
| Reggio Emilia Approach | | | | creativity of the individual and is based on the |
| This approach was first developed by Loris Malaguzzi, | | | | practical, artistic, and conceptual elements of learning. |
| in and around Reggio Emilia in Italy, after World War | | | | This philosophy encourages the child to become free, |
| II. Parents in Reggio Emilia felt that the destruction | | | | moral and integrated individual. It also supports every |
| caused by the war would leave negative impact on | | | | child in fulfilling his or her unique aspirations. |
| their children. Hence, a new approach was quickly | | | | In 1919, the first Waldorf School was founded in |
| needed to educate their children during the early | | | | Waldorf-Astoria, to educate the children of the |
| years of development of a child. In order to build up | | | | employees of the cigarette factory in Stuttgart. This |
| the individuality of their children they developed a | | | | form of education has been adopted by nurseries in |
| new program of education on the principles of | | | | Croydon also. There are several Waldorf-based public |
| respect, responsibility, and community. | | | | and Charter schools and homeschooling environments. |
| The city of Reggio Emilia is recognized as the home | | | | Even pre-schools and nurseries have also taken up |
| to this innovative approach to education. This was | | | | this educational philosophy to educate toddlers. |
| later adopted by rest of the European cities, | | | | Montessori nurseries |
| Croydon being one of them. | | | | These are exceptionally popular for pre-school |
| The Reggio Emilia philosophy is based upon the | | | | education and can be easily located in Croydon. The |
| following set of principles: | | | | nurseries are named after their founder, Dr Maria |
| Every child must have control over the direction | | | | Montessori. Dr Montessori was an Italian woman who |
| of his/ her learning | | | | developed this method of child education. Her work |
| The program allows the child to learn through | | | | and study of children developed a unique form of |
| personal experiences of touching, moving, listening, | | | | teaching method which is based on various principles. |
| seeing, and hearing | | | | The main principle is that every child is an individual |
| The program also allows children to understand | | | | who is affected by the social environment and should |
| and develop their relationships with other children and | | | | be encouraged to learn from his or her surroundings. |
| with material items in the world | | | | |