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THE MISSION OF THE NURSERY

The Nursery, in compliance with current national and regional regulations, is an educational and social service that guarantees every individual’s right to education and is open to all children from 10 months to 3 years of age.

It pursues the following objectives:

  • The education and socialization of boys and girls, with a focus on their physical and psychological well-being and the development of their cognitive, emotional, relational, and social potential, supporting the construction of identity, autonomy, and skills;

  • The care of children through continuous entrustment to figures other than family members, in an environment outside the family context;

  • Support for families in the care of their children and in their educational choices, within a framework of constant dialogue, listening, and valuing their skills;

  • Collaboration in building an integrated educational system by establishing networks and connections with the local community. The service engages with families with full respect for the principles of equality, solidarity, cultural and religious freedom, and also promotes and facilitates the inclusion of children with disabilities, from other cultures, as well as children experiencing social or relational difficulties.

The Nursery bases its essence on a rich network of relationships among children, families, and staff, and is guided by certain ideas that shape the meaning and direction of its educational project. This project is framed within a theoretical context informed by the latest interdisciplinary approaches to education. The identity of a service is, in fact, defined by its educational philosophy and the theoretical references that underpin it, which in turn determine its organizational structure, methodologies, and daily practices.

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LE LINGUE DEL NIDO

Bilingualism: Italian/English

The process of acquiring a second language follows the same process that children go through in acquiring their mother tongue and is therefore based on three

fundamental steps: listening, gathering and production. At nursery school our children are generally in the first two phases of this important process, thus laying the foundations for their more solid acquisition and production that will begin in the preschool period, normally coinciding with kindergarten. Our continuity path has the very objective of picking up the baton and strengthening the acquisition by starting the production phase.

The English speaker teacher of the nursery sections organizes specific workshops with each class group every day, but interacts and supports throughout the day by speaking exclusively in English.

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SPANISH

The introduction of a third language, in this case, Spanish, is an additional enrichment for the children and offers numerous benefits in education and development. In addition to their mother tongue and English, learning Spanish represents a unique opportunity for children to develop further linguistic and cognitive skills.

Two hours a week in all nursery classes will be dedicated to the Spanish language: songs, books, and activities...

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EDUCATIONAL APPROACH

"The student is the one who builds their own path, and the teacher is the one who accompanies them along the way. What a child can do today with help, they will be able to do on their own tomorrow. Learning is like a tower; it must be built step by step." L. Vygotskij

The Nursery L'Ape Maia follows the main principles of pedagogy and psychology, which view play as the driving activity for acquiring all the functional, relational, tactile, and cognitive experiences essential for the proper development of the self.

Play is indeed one of the main drivers of every child's actions, including their capacity for social relationships. Through play, a child learns to understand themselves and to experiment, also freely associating with the acceptance of the rules set by the group for playing.

All the play activities in our nursery (musicology, manual skills, psychomotricity, etc.) are designed considering the children's age, their abilities, and their level of interest. The pedagogical and cultural project has been developed and implemented over the years, based on the idea that every child, even the very young, is a builder of their own knowledge. This concept supports the idea that each child experiences their own potential, extraordinary uniqueness, and originality within a relationship, dialogue, and continuous negotiation with others (both adults and children). The educational project promotes and supports the development of young children through the enhancement of all forms of communication, focusing on multiple dimensions: relational, communicative, cognitive, symbolic, ethical, metaphorical, and expressive.

The project paths and educational proposals promoted throughout the day are structured as "learning contexts". They take into account the children's potential at different ages and their "zones of proximal development." The activity should not be the educator's end goal but rather a means to explore the children's potential and skills, providing them with opportunities for experimentation and skill enhancement.

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Reading time

DAILY PROGRAM AT THE NURSERY

  • Welcome (8:00-9:30): We start the day with a warm welcome for all our little ones.

  • Morning Snack (9:30-9:45): After arrival, the children share a healthy and tasty snack.

  • Circle Time: A group moment to start the day with joy and sharing.

  • Free Play: Outdoor activities (weather permitting) to develop social and motor skills through play.

  • Educational Activities (10:15-11:00): Workshops and projects in line with our educational program.

  • Lunch (11:15-12:00): Handwashing, changing, and a nutritious lunch for everyone.

  • Afternoon Rest (13:00-15:00/15:30): Relaxation time with a nap; the rest time varies based on individual needs.

  • Awakening and Afternoon Play (from 15:00): After waking up, snack and free play, followed by pick-up between 16:00 and 16:30.

ACTIVITIES AT THE NURSERY

  • Educational Activities in line with the educational projects shared with families at the beginning of the year:

  • Music with Gordon Method

  • Psychomotricity

  • Pet Therapy

  • Educational Garden

  • Aquatic Activities @ Circolo Tiro a Volo (for children aged 20/24 months and up)

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