Northern Ireland and Reggio Emilia – Creative CollaborationThe pedagogical and cultural experience of the municipal infant-toddler centres and preschools, known in the world as the Reggio Emilia Approach, offers itself as an example of an educational experience with an intense vitality, based on research and innovation. At international level the Reggio Emilia Approach is seen as a creative pedagogical project that enhances quality in education.We propose to bring 24 participants comprising of Daycare Providers/Managers; Surestart Coordinators; Early Years Specialists/Trainers to a study tour in Spring 2017 and in Spring 2018. The study tour consists of 5 full days on each occassionThe participants provide and/or support services for children and their families in Northern Ireland. They deliver training programmes to staff teams and early years practitioners in daycares and Surestart projects as part of their roles.The programme of professional development in Reggio is exemplary in its encouragement of partnership and cooperation – not simply between colleagues but between schools. This is an exemplar we can use in NI at local, regional, national and European levels. To cooperate together to move forward and improve outcomes for all children.The objectives of this Mobility Project are: - to support the professional development of Early Years staff involved in providing Adult Education training in ECCE in Northern Ireland with a view to bringing innovative ideas to improve the quality and provision of teaching and learning in infant toddler centres in NI - to raise participants' awareness and understanding of other cultures and countries, offering them the opportunity to build networks of international contacts, to actively participate in society and develop a sense of European citizenship and identity;- to increase the international dimension of Early Years by creating further partnerships with organisations and individuals in Europe- to improve outcomes for young children in NI- to provide basic competency in conversational Italian to participants;The project offers participants the opportunity to hear directly from those who work in the infant toddler centres and pre-schools. There will be several possibilities for deeper understanding of the Reggio Emilia approach. A combination of visits to centres, presentations, meetings, slide shows and videos will focus on:- Encountering the town of Reggio Emilia, its community and its social, cultural and educational context- Learning about identity and aims of the Infant Toddler Centres and Preschools- Revisiting the principles of the educational project including essential elements of the daily life of the Infant Toddler Centres and Preschools- Attending presentations by pedagogistas, atelieristas and teachers on the principles of the educational project of the Preschools and Infant-toddler Centres Istituzione of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia- Analyzing research projects realized inside the Preschools and Infanttoddler Centres that will be shared and offered as opportunities to study together- Walking and being surrounded by the environment of the Preschools and Infant Toddler Centres that will be visited as an example of visible learning- Visiting the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre and the Documentation and Educational Research Centre- Participating in working groups and discussions groupsParticipants will develop contacts with practitioners using Reggio Emilia approach from other regions in the UK, Europe and USA and closer links with the Infant Toddler centres and pre-schools in ItalyThe Reggio Emilia approach is relevant to the Northern Ireland context given the strong focus on community development and parental involvement. Democratic rights, duties and responsibilities are valued highly and underpin all of the work that goes on within the Reggio schools.The Mobility project will also allow us to create new relationships and possible partnerships with other individuals and organisations involved in providing training in the field of Early Years Care and Education throughout Europe.Early Years will have, as a result of this mobility project, an increased capacity to operate at an international level. New networks will be established with a range of European partners