The turning point of my career was a study tour to Reggio Emilia in 2010. What I saw and heard in Italy made me reflect on my practice as an early years leading teacher for my local authority and my philosophy of education. This inspirational experience, coupled with my degree in psychology and my interest in child development, gave me the confidence to take my educational practice in a new direction.
I was inspired by the action research that the practitioners in Reggio Emilia were involved in; their belief in children as competent learners and their desire to understand learning, improving practice as a result. I had gone to Italy thinking that I put children at the centre of my practice. However, after five days of visiting schools and attending lectures, I realised my practice had a long way to go. So, when I returned to England, I reflected on the teaching and learning in my classroom. I started to listen more, lead less and open my eyes to new approaches. It was scary and exciting.
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