The school my kids attend begins at ELC (3 year olds, kinder, pre school) and runs a true Reggio Emilia program. Reggio is a play based approach, but many people misunderstand this to mean that the kids run riot and can do as they please! There is certainly structure to the day. If you google Reggio Emilia, you can read about it and be far more informed than I could explain! It is based on the premise that the child is capable and just needs to be given the opportunity to learn and create and express themselves (the 100 languages...). Reggio aims to lay the foundation for children to be life long learners.

The school then runs the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP) which is enquiry based learning. I find that an enquiry based approach results in kids who are engaged and focussed as they have confidence in their own abilities as learners. They are able to access information in a myriad of ways according to their own learning styles and preferences.

I have very little faith in the traditional style of teaching as I don't think that rote learned information is engaging and very little of it is retained! My two older kids are very different learners, but Reggio and PYP has suited them both. My littlest is currently adoring her time in ELC!