Foundations of Learning

Within our approach, what children learn is dependent on how they learn it: we take very much into account the social and physical context where learning happens, as well as the individual circumstances of children's lives which come into play. An experiential and active approach to learning requires an environment which fulfills children's need to learn through play, exploration and discovery; from adults and from their peers; by taking risks, assessing and challenging their own capacities and skills. Bearing this in mind, we have developed a coherent framework which involves several interdependent foundations of learning:

• Social and emotional well-being;

• Low adult to children ratios;

• Small community;

• Age-mixed groups;

• Freedom and responsibility;

• Free play;

• Free movement;

• Risk-taking;