Our Philosophy


At Roots & Shoots Preschool we believe if one is to create a culture of engagement, creativity and optimism for it’s learners, educators, families and communities alike, one needs to embody the very values one is advocating.

This is where the Reggio Emilia Approach shines. There are seven key principles that illustrate our Approach.

  • We believe all children are capable, passionate and creative thinkers, who are active participants in constructing their own knowledge of the world around them. Our curriculum is child-initiated or teacher provoked, evolving with new insights and creating new possibilities and application.

  • We believe teachers are co-learners and collaborators with the children. This is made possible with our 2:8 teacher, student ratio; for more individualized attention. Through careful observation, extensive documentation and thoughtful inquiry, our teachers work and play in partnership with the children. Together, we engage in explorations, deepening their learning experiences and nurturing relationships.

  • Through notes, photographs, videos, artifacts and performing arts, our teachers reflect on the children’s experiences and analyze their work to gain a deep understanding of the concepts and theories the children are exploring. The collaborative process enables the teachers to ask more complex questions, create new and meaningful provocations, and explore other learning strategies or materials, extending the children’s thinking and support creativity.

  • We believe multi-layered, rich and complex environments support curiosity, engagement and learning. Each of our outdoor and indoor spaces are created with intention. Access to an abundance of nature, beautiful materials and intentional design is transformative; changing as children explore and evolve their ideas.

  • We encourage our children to express their understanding of the world through many symbolic languages, including drawing, sculpture, dramatic play, dance, movement, mathematics, poetry, writing, science and technology.

  • We believe parents are our first and best partners and resource in developing and sustaining our vital caring community. Parent’s know their children best and their participation supports the richness of the daily life in our school and their collaboration has been in the creation of many of our unique provocations.

  • We believe extending learning outside the walls of the school, encourages our children to be more connected to their community and our community more invested in our children. Together, we are able to explore diverse local environments, such as beaches, tide-pools, canyons, forests, farms, gardens and local businesses. We can build social-stewardship through visiting museums and cultural events; fostering positive on-going relationships with naturalists, farmers, gardeners, and many other types of community members.