Cire Early Learning attends REAIE Conference thanks to Perpetual IMPACT grant

Four educators joined Cire Early Learning (CEL) CEO Gus Seremetis at the recent Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE) conference in Melbourne thanks to generous funding through a Perpetual IMPACT grant of more than $65,000 from the Frank Leyden Tot-Ed Trust and Norman H. Johns Trust. 

 

Joining Mr Seremetis were Rachel Goulter – Acting Director of Yarra Junction Early Learning, Debbie Ford – Director at Mt Evelyn Early Learning, Annalise Smith – 2IC at Mt Evelyn,  and Amanda Brown – Coordinator at Yarra Junction Outside School Hours Care. Unfortunately Diletta Lanciana, Executive Manager of Cire Early Learning was unable to attend as she was recovering from surgery.

 

The 12-month grant funded a CEL professional learning program to develop expertise in Reggio Emilia, embed the approach throughout its services, and create a community of practice.

 

The grant enabled CEL to engage a part-time consultant specialising in Reggio Emilia to help create a Community of Practice that ensures learnings and knowledge are maintained and passed on to new staff.

 

Ms Lanciana said the funding has enabled CEL to explore, learn and further develop its knowledge about the Reggio Emilia philosophy.

 

To ensure that the learning continues throughout CEL, the Community of Practice is creating a Cire Reggio Emilia Practice Guide that will form part of the educator induction process so that the project content and knowledge is sustainable despite educator movement. Cire Training will also be able to use the guide with its early education and care students.

 

“Attendance at the conference has consolidated the learnings of the project and has created momentum and inspiration among the leadership team and Community of Practice. We are so grateful to Perpetual for this funding and the opportunity to truly demonstrate Reggio Emilia in our services,” Ms Lanciana said.

 

The conference, Mr Seremetis said, “was truly inspirational, opening our minds to different ways to do things, and the many opportunities and possibilities”.

 

Click here to learn more about Cire Early Learning. For a review of the conference from The Sector, please see here.