The Reggio Emilia philosophy at Everwood, Forrestdale. Your child’s curiosity sets the plan.
The Reggio Emilia philosophy sees young children as curious, capable learners. At Everwood, educators follow what your child is interested in, build projects around it, and set up rooms and a garden that invite exploration. Here is how it works, in plain terms.
- Child-led learning
- Projects that grow from questions
- Guided by the EYLF
The short answer
What is the Reggio Emilia philosophy? Learning that starts with the child.
The Reggio Emilia philosophy is an approach to early childhood education that began in Reggio Emilia, a town in northern Italy, after the Second World War. A local teacher worked to help rebuild the community, starting with how its youngest children learn. The approach has since gained attention around the world for the way it nurtures the whole child.
Inspired by it, Everwood works from one belief: the child, the parent, the community and the environment all play a part in your child’s early learning.
What “Reggio-inspired” means at Everwood
Everwood draws on the approach’s key ideas within the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which guides our programme. Those ideas shape everything from lesson plans to the design of our rooms. In practice, that means five things:
- Your child’s interests lead the learning
- The environment is the third teacher
- Learning grows through projects
- Educators document learning and share it with you
- Families are partners
Child-led learning
What does child-led learning mean? Your child’s interests set the direction.
Child-led learning means educators start from what your child is curious about, instead of a one-size-fits-all programme.
Child-led does not mean unplanned. Educators watch and listen, then plan the next experience around each child’s interests, with intentional teaching woven through the day, so children build early literacy, numeracy and social skills as they play.
- Educators notice what each child is drawn to
- They plan the next experience around it
- Children choose, test and revisit their ideas
The environment as the third teacher
Why does the room matter so much? It is the third teacher.
Reggio educators call the environment the “third teacher”. The rooms, the garden and the materials are arranged to invite children to explore, so the space does some of the teaching.
At Everwood, that means a book nook under a tree-shaped bookshelf, loose parts and natural materials to play with, and a garden with raised veggie beds and a worm farm. Every detail is designed to invite exploration and discovery, and nature is part of every day.
- Spaces designed to invite exploration
- Toddler-height sinks and hooks for independence
- Nature, every day
Projects
How does a project grow? From a question to something to share.
A question comes up
Projects start with what children ask or keep coming back to. In Tall Trees, topics spring from the children’s own questions, such as volcanoes, recycling or favourite animals.
Educators set a provocation
Educators set out materials, books or a challenge that invites children to look closer. In Reggio-inspired rooms, these invitations are called provocations.
Children explore and test ideas
Children build, draw, act out and talk it through together. Projects are long-term, so ideas have time to deepen.
The learning is documented
Educators capture children’s words, drawings and photos, so they can plan the next step and you can see the thinking behind the work.
Children share what they found
Older children plan, research and present projects in small teams, from building a worm farm to staging a puppet show or designing a mini-market.
Documentation
How will I see my child’s learning? We document it and share it.
In a Reggio-inspired centre, educators document learning through photos, children’s own words, their drawings and short notes.
That record does two jobs. It helps educators plan what comes next for your child, and it lets you follow the learning through photos and updates in the Xplor and Earlyworks apps. In the older rooms, children also record findings in mini-journals, and project work goes up on display boards.
- Photos and updates in Xplor and Earlyworks
- Mini-journals and display boards in the older rooms
- Conversations with educators about your baby’s learning and development
Relationships and families
Where do families fit in? Right at the centre.
Relationships are at the core of the Reggio approach, because human interaction is essential for a young child’s brain development.
We build strong, supportive connections between children and educators, and between Everwood and your family. Families and community members are welcome in our learning spaces as partners in each child’s learning.
- Breakfast with your child at our breakfast bar
- Family information evenings through the year
- Your child’s interests from home, woven into play
Reggio-inspired in every room
What does it look like at each age? Explore the rooms.
Questions parents ask
Reggio Emilia, explained simply.
What is the Reggio Emilia approach in simple terms?
The Reggio Emilia approach is a way of teaching young children that starts with their curiosity. Educators follow children’s interests, build projects around them, treat the environment as a “third teacher” and document the learning so families can see it.
Is child-led learning just free play?
No, child-led learning is planned: children lead with their interests, and educators plan around them on purpose. Intentional teaching is woven through the day, so children build early literacy, numeracy and social skills as they play.
Does Everwood follow the Early Years Learning Framework?
Yes, Everwood’s programme is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), and Reggio Emilia ideas shape how we deliver it.
Will a Reggio-inspired centre get my child ready for school?
Yes, a Reggio-inspired programme can prepare children for school, and at Everwood that is the focus of the Gumnuts kindy room for 4 to 5 year olds. It blends inquiry maths, phonics-rich storytelling, nature science and collaborative projects to help children start school confident, curious and resilient.
How will I know what my child is learning?
You’ll see your child’s learning through documentation: photos and updates from Everwood in the Xplor and Earlyworks apps. Our educators are also just a chat, text or email away.
Can I see the Reggio Emilia approach in action?
Yes, you can see the Reggio Emilia approach in action on a 30-minute tour of Everwood. You can explore the rooms and outdoor spaces, meet our educators and ask how they plan around children’s interests.
Find us
Just off Armadale Road.
30 Anstey Road, Forrestdale WA 6112
Everwood is on Anstey Road, just north of Armadale Road, with parking on site. Most families are 5 to 9 minutes away.
Drive times to Everwood
- Piara Waters: about 5 min
- Harrisdale: about 6 min
- Haynes: about 7 min
- Seville Grove: about 7 min
- Banjup: about 7 min
- Treeby: about 8 min
- Hilbert: about 8 min
- Champion Lakes: about 8 min
- Armadale: about 9 min
- Southern River: about 9 min
- Canning Vale: about 9 min
- Kelmscott: about 12 min
- Byford: about 15 min
Drive times: Google Maps, outside peak traffic. On-site parking.
Get directions ↗Come and see for yourself
Book your Everwood tour.
Choose a day and time, then add your details once. Tours take about 30 minutes: walk through the rooms, meet our educators, and ask anything.