Giocomotiva
Via delle Campora

Nursery Opening Hours

The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, from 08.00 to 17.30.

• Admission: 08.00 – 09.30
• Part-time finish time: 12.30–13.00
• Full-time session: 4.00 pm–5.30 pm

You can opt for part-time study.

Settling into nursery

Settling into nursery is the time when every child and every family begins to get to know the nursery and to build their confidence in the environment, the people there and the new daily routine.

It is an important step, which requires time and attention. We support them every step of the way, with our educators on hand and with the flexibility that every family deserves.

The model we use is called Participatory Settling-in, as children and parents are very actively involved and take part in the nursery’s full daily routine right from the start.

How it works

• The first few days take place with the presence of a parent or a caregiver. The programme involves three days at the centre, and on the following days the children usually say goodbye to their parents for a few hours.
• We do not follow rigid routines or set timetables: every child has their own pace, and the settling-in process is built up day by day, as we listen to their cues and needs. When a child shows that they feel calm and secure, the time spent at the centre can be extended – even quite quickly – to a full day; in other cases, we proceed more gradually, respecting the child’s own pace and supporting them step by step towards full independence.
• The nursery teachers welcome the children and guide them throughout the entire programme with experience and sensitivity.

Italian–English bilingualism

At Giocomotiva in Via delle Campora, Italian and English are part of the children’s daily lives from their very first months.

A native English-speaking teacher is present on a regular basis and works alongside the nursery staff in their day-to-day activities. The children are introduced to English through play, songs, reading and conversation.

The educational team creates an environment in which both languages become tools for communication, discovery and building relationships. English is integrated into the nursery’s daily routine.

The partnership with Syracuse University and I.S.I. Florence University also involves the participation of interns and native English-speaking teaching assistants, who take part in the workshops and the daily life of the nursery.

Outdoor Education

In the garden, the children enjoy everyday experiences of play and physical activity in the open air, come into contact with the natural world and observe the changing seasons.

The nursery teachers guide them with age-appropriate activities, whilst allowing room for curiosity, social interaction and hands-on experience. The children observe plants and animals, explore the garden, move about freely and learn to look after the environment.

Pet Education offers opportunities to interact with animals respectfully, to develop mindfulness, and to enjoy new emotional and interpersonal experiences.

The rooms

We organise the spaces as learning and social environments, in which children can build knowledge through independence, movement, exploration and interaction with others.

In the sections, the children rejoin their reference group and, day by day, build relationships, learning and independence through play and daily routines. Activities alternate between small and large groups, in an environment guided and supported by the attentive presence of the educators.

Children can move between areas dedicated to symbolic play, physical activity and creative experiences.

In the workshop, children encounter light tables, easels, clay, natural objects and materials to be transformed, enabling them to explore graphic, musical, physical, logical-mathematical and narrative forms of expression.

Together with families

Throughout the year, we organise family gatherings so that we can spend time together, exchange views, share experiences and support the children on their journey

• Themed evenings – meetings with experts on topics of common interest
• Meetings with families – presentation and evaluation of the educational programme, and meetings to address any needs that arise
• Christmas and New Year celebrations – moments of shared joy
• May outing – an outdoor outing for everyone: children, parents and teachers

We involve parents in their children’s learning: dialogue with parents is available at any time of the year, on an individual basis, should the family require it or wish to discuss matters in greater depth.

In January and May, individual meetings, valuable opportunities for discussion between teachers and parents, are organised.

Section meetings promote an understanding of ongoing projects and help parents to understand aspects of their children’s social development.