San Miniato in Tuscany, with a population of 26,000, has a take-up of 40per cent of children from birth to two in nursery or an integratedservice, and a further 5 per cent enrolled in the state early educationsystem.
Unlike the UK, services are not targeted at particular groups, such asworking families or disadvantaged parents, and the aspiration is toprovide a universal service.
The level of provision is more than twice the Italian national averageof 15 per cent and far exceeds the EU target for member countries tohave 33 per cent of children under the age of three attending an earlyyears service by 2010.
San Miniato drew inspiration from nearby Reggio Emilia, when developingits first 'nido' (nursery) in 1980. It has steadily expanded to sevennurseries, as well as a sessional centre where parents attend with theirchild.
The upbringing of very young children is seen as a role for the wholecommunity, as 'a civic enterprise'.
Co-author Keir Bloomer told Nursery World that UK policymakers couldlearn much from the approach, 'This is about supporting parents to be asgood a parent as they can be. It's a non-patronising intervention.'
Central to this collaborative approach is daily recording of detailedobservations on children's activities and relationships as a basis for'educatori' (nursery staff) to discuss with parents.
Unlike the UK, he said, there was 'a focus on providing opportunities tolearn rather than prescribed outcomes. What is most interesting is whatI'd describe as the child as protagonist. This leads you away from acurriculum.
'It's more than just the child at the centre. It's about the child as apowerful agent on his or her behalf. The child is bringing something tothe encounter with the educator and the experience is unique to thechild.'
Young Children in charge is published by Children in Scotland on 9September.
Order copies for 11.99 for members or 13.99 fornon-members at www.childreninscotland.org.uk/publications.
