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St Catherine’s News Autumn 2020
Inspiring Learning Space for Young Children
At the heart of St Catherine’s Early Learning Centre (ELC) philosophy is an acknowledgment of the importance that the physical environment plays in a child’s learning and development.
Contemporary theories and research informed by the Reggio Emilia approach recognise and value the environment as the ‘third teacher’ and it is seen as an integral element of the learning process. As the learning spaces have the potential to influence what and how children learn these spaces support and promote wonder, curiosity, inquiry and research. Authentic artefacts, cultural provocations, and
interesting items from the natural world are used extensively throughout the learning environments. They provide both a rich visual stimulus to prompt children’s wonder and questioning, as well as opportunities for hands-on, sensory discovery. Active participation in the learning environment develops a child’s understanding of concepts, and expands their thinking and inquiry processes.
