REDDAM EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL ST LEONARDS NEWSLETTER Principal’s Message
24th June 2022
By Mrs Simone Cooke
Dear Parents, There is something fascinating and magical about light, children are intrigued by the opportunities it presents. Whether they are delighting in the fairy lights, chasing their shadow or using torches to explore their cubby house, light offers opportunities to extend children’s discovery and exploration. You will notice when you walk around our classrooms that in addition to our large floor to ceiling glass walls, we also have many light tables. This is because light is a significant feature of our Reggio Emilia programme and is used quite intentionally in our schools. The use of light is inspired by a belief that both natural and artificial light, facilitates the children’s view of both the outside world and internal spaces of the classroom, allowing the environment to act as a “third teacher” and to promote magical experience where children can wonder at the world around them. When exploring the natural element of light, it becomes a material, much like a language, which offers new opportunities to communicate, explore and manipulate to make new meanings. The addition of light into the children’s environment transforms and stimulates the senses. Including mirrors allows our children to become more aware of themselves and develop their sense of identity. The children love exploring their reflections and shadows and are curious about how light and dark occur within their world. Using light tables, mirrors and reflective surfaces encourages our children to investigate the interplay of light and shadow. It provokes and encourages exploration and investigation, with endless possibilities. From creating rainbows, mixing colours, patterning, sorting, classifying and experimenting with light, our children make new discoveries about the world they live in. REDDAM EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL | ST LEONARDS NEWSLETTER
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