Discover how the Akidamy’s Reggio Emilia Approach to Lifelong Learning is applied at our schools.
At The Akidamy, we believe that a child’s early years should be filled with discovery, creativity, and joy. We’re more than a childcare provider, we’re an Early Learning School with a deep commitment to nurturing confident, curious, and capable learners for life. As one of the few schools in Western Australia devoted entirely to the Reggio Emilia philosophy, we create an environment where learning is driven by children’s natural interests and imagination.
As a proud member of the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE), we’re part of a global network dedicated to quality and innovation in early childhood education. We invite local Perth families to explore our School Philosophy and discover how our unique approach can shape your child’s learning journey from the very beginning.
What is the Reggio Emilia Approach?
If you’re new to the Reggio Emilia philosophy, you may be wondering: What makes this different from other early learning approaches?
Developed in northern Italy by educator Loris Malaguzzi after World War II, the Reggio Emilia approach centres around a profound respect for children as competent, curious individuals with powerful potential. Malaguzzi believed that children aren’t just passive learners—they’re natural researchers, full of questions, creativity, and unique ways of seeing the world.
At The Akidamy, this philosophy guides everything we do. We don’t teach from a fixed curriculum. Instead, our educators work alongside children, exploring their questions, documenting their discoveries, and creating meaningful learning experiences in response to their interests.
Our Perspective:
What drew us to this philosophy is its respect for children as individuals. In our view, it offers a more humane, respectful, and deeply meaningful alternative to standard early education models.
Children Are Capable Co-Creators of Knowledge
At The Akidamy, we don’t see children as empty vessels to be filled with facts. We see them as empowered learners who construct knowledge through experience, interaction, and reflection.
We carefully observe each child and respond to their interests by designing environments and experiences that spark exploration and collaboration. Our educators pay close attention to how children express ideas, ask questions, and work with their peers. This collaborative, inquiry-based approach supports not just academic development, but emotional and social growth as well.
Our Perspective:
Parents often tell us they’re amazed at how confidently their children communicate, problem-solve, and think independently, even at a very young age. We credit this to a learning environment that trusts children’s capabilities from the start.
Children’s Lifelong Learning
At The Akidamy School of Early Learning, we believe that the foundations for lifelong learning are laid in the earliest years. Our Reggio Emilia-inspired approach nurtures not just what children learn, but how they learn, encouraging curiosity, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity from the very beginning.
Every interaction, discovery, and question is seen as part of a larger learning journey that extends well beyond the classroom. By fostering a sense of wonder and a love for exploration, we help children develop the confidence and skills they’ll carry through school, into adulthood, and throughout life. For Perth families, this means your child is not only school-ready, but future-ready, prepared to adapt, grow, and thrive in an ever-changing world.
Learning That Lasts a Lifetime
One of the core values of our Reggio Emilia-inspired practice is nurturing a lifelong love of learning, something that starts in the earliest years and extends well beyond formal schooling.
Children at The Akidamy don’t just memorise facts; they learn how to learn. They develop curiosity, perseverance, creativity, and critical thinking all qualities that serve them long after they leave our school. Whether a child goes on to be a scientist, artist, entrepreneur, or community leader, these foundational skills empower them to approach life with confidence and curiosity.
Local Insight:
Perth parents often ask us how we prepare children for “school readiness.” Our view is that real readiness isn’t about rote counting or the alphabet, it’s about self-regulation, curiosity, resilience, and the ability to learn in different ways.
Expression Through a Hundred Languages
One of the most beautiful aspects of the Reggio Emilia approach is the belief that children express themselves in a hundred languages—not just words.
At our Perth and Fremantle campuses, you’ll see this belief in action through our art studios (Ateliers), dramatic play spaces, musical experiences, and thoughtfully designed provocations. Children engage in long-term projects that blend storytelling, sculpture, painting, and nature-based learning. Each child is encouraged to use their own “languages” to explore and express ideas.
We believe every mark on paper, every structure built from blocks, and every burst of song is a meaningful expression of thought. And we treat it with the same respect we’d give to a spoken insight or written idea.
The Learning Environment as the Third Teacher
We often say our environment is the “third teacher” alongside educators and families.
At The Akidamy, every space is carefully designed to invite exploration and discovery. From our light-filled indoor studios to our shaded nature-inspired outdoor areas, we intentionally craft learning spaces that respond to children’s curiosity and allow them to move freely between environments.
Our collection of Australian, Indigenous, and local art helps children connect with their culture and community, while music ranging from classical to contemporary jazz—plays throughout the day to inspire a sense of calm and creativity.
Our Perspective:
We see the learning environment as a silent guide. When designed with care and purpose, it speaks to children—offering questions, not answers.
A Curriculum That Emerges from Children’s Interests
Unlike fixed curricula, our emergent curriculum is fluid and responsive. It begins with what fascinates your child, whether it’s how plants grow, how machines work, or why the sky changes colour.
Educators then guide this interest into a deep and meaningful inquiry, capturing moments through photography, observation notes, and documentation. These records are not only shared with parents but used to reflect on learning and extend it further.
This approach encourages children to take ownership of their learning. They begin to see themselves as researchers, problem-solvers, and creative thinkers.
Families as Partners in Learning
We strongly believe that families are central to a child’s educational journey. At The Akidamy, parents aren’t just spectators, they’re co-learners and co-creators.
We invite parents into the classroom, share regular documentation of their child’s learning, and host workshops and conversations that deepen the connection between home and school. This collaboration strengthens the learning process and supports the child in a holistic way.
Local Note:
Many Perth families tell us that the sense of community at The Akidamy is one of the biggest reasons they chose us. It’s not just a school, it’s a partnership.
Begin Your Child’s Lifelong Learning Journey
At The Akidamy, we view early childhood as a precious time to build the foundations for lifelong learning. Through our Reggio Emilia-inspired practice, children learn to question, explore, express, and collaborate skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
We invite you to visit one of our Perth locations and experience our learning environment firsthand. You’ll see children engaged in meaningful play, hear the hum of creativity in every room, and meet educators who are passionate about your child’s potential.
To learn more, connect with our School Director’s or Pedagogista’s (Educational Leaders), or explore the resources and links on our website. We’d love to welcome you into our community.
