Reggio Emilia is an educational approach that emerged in the Italian city of the same name, seeing the child as the active protagonist of their own learning, emphasising exploration, projects and the “hundred languages” through which a child expresses themselves, and treating the classroom environment as the “third teacher”. In Cluj-Napoca it’s a rare approach, offered mainly by private centres that present themselves as Reggio-inspired, such as ImagiNation Early Years Centre (Dâmbul Rotund).

Below you’ll find a short explanation of what Reggio means, what sets it apart, and where to find it in Cluj.

What the Reggio Emilia approach is

The approach developed after the Second World War in the city of Reggio Emilia, under the influence of the educator Loris Malaguzzi. The central idea: the child is capable, curious and competent from an early age, and the educator’s role is to accompany them, not to hand down ready-made knowledge.

There’s no fixed “curriculum”, but projects that start from the children’s interests and develop over time (an approach called progettazione, or emergent curriculum).

The key principles

  • The child as protagonist. Learning starts from the child’s curiosity and questions.
  • The “hundred languages”. Children express themselves in many ways — drawing, movement, building, play, words — not just through writing and numbers.
  • The environment as “third teacher”. Space, light and natural materials are designed to invite exploration.
  • The atelier and the atelierista. A space and an adult dedicated to artistic expression and experimentation.
  • Documentation. Educators record, photograph and display the learning process, making it visible to children and parents.
  • Projects. Long-running themes, explored in depth, rather than isolated lessons.

Reggio is not a certified “brand”

An important detail for parents: Reggio Emilia is not a patented, officially certified method in the way that, say, Montessori training is. It’s a philosophy that institutions can draw on to varying degrees.

That’s why the accurate phrase is often “Reggio-inspired”. When comparing options, ask concretely: what does a day look like, how is learning documented, what role does the atelier play — not just whether the word “Reggio” appears on the website.

Where to find Reggio in Cluj

In our directory, the Reggio approach appears at one private centre in Cluj-Napoca:

  • ImagiNation Early Years Centre — a nursery and kindergarten in Dâmbul Rotund, with an English-language programme and a Reggio-inspired approach. See the institution page: ImagiNation Early Years Centre.

You can see all institutions filtered by this approach on the Reggio Emilia pedagogy page. Being a niche approach, the offer is limited; if you like the philosophy, also check kindergartens that work with projects and exploration, even without the “Reggio” label.

Who it suits

Reggio suits families who want a relaxed, creative and child-centred environment, with an emphasis on exploration and expression rather than rigid routines and early academic “performance”. If you prefer structure and clear steps, compare it with Montessori and Waldorf. For general selection criteria, see our guide on how to choose a kindergarten.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Reggio Emilia approach? An educational approach from the Italian city of Reggio Emilia, in which the child is the protagonist, learning happens through projects and exploration, and the classroom environment is designed as a “third teacher”.

Are there Reggio kindergartens in Cluj? Yes, but few. In our directory, the Reggio-inspired approach appears at ImagiNation Early Years Centre (Dâmbul Rotund), a private centre with an English-language programme.

Is Reggio a certified method? No. Unlike Montessori, Reggio is a philosophy that institutions draw on, without a single official certification. That’s why the phrase “Reggio-inspired” is often used.

How does Reggio differ from Montessori? Montessori has structured materials and steps, with an emphasis on autonomy; Reggio emphasises emergent projects, artistic expression and documenting the process. Both are child-centred.

Sources

  • Reggio Children (the organisation in Reggio Emilia, Italy) — on the Loris Malaguzzi approach
  • The pages of the institutions listed in our directory (their own websites)
  • The piticluj.ro directory — Reggio Emilia pedagogy

See all our sources on the data sources page.

Conclusion

Reggio Emilia is a creative, child-centred approach built on projects, expression and a carefully designed environment — but rare in Cluj, offered mainly by private centres that draw on this philosophy. Compare the offers concretely, and see every kindergarten in Cluj-Napoca on the interactive piticluj.ro map.