It was both humbling and heart-warming to hear from our fellow Early Childhood colleagues working in Ukraine, France, China, America, Spain, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Australia and more! But what struck me most, was this deep feeling of belonging, of being part of this worldwide movement. It was so inspiring! 

‘Belonging’ is a key buzzword in education in England at the moment. It is wonderful to see this concept receiving such attention, yet I find myself reflecting that, as Steiner Waldorf schools, we have been working with this theme for over a hundred years. Belonging is not a new initiative for us; it lies at the very heart of our educational philosophy, particularly in Early Childhood.

We seek to nourish and cultivate a deep sense of belonging through meaningful experiences, purposeful work, nurturing relationships, familiar rhythms and rituals, and a living connection to nature and the wider world. Through the simple, everyday activities of Waldorf Early Childhood life, such as preparing food, tending the garden, sharing stories, celebrating the seasons and caring for one another, the children in our care experience that they are valued, that they have a place in the world, and that they can make a meaningful contribution.

I have often felt, however, that we approach belonging in a far deeper way. For us, it is not enough to nurture a sense of belonging within our school and community; we also seek to cultivate a sense of belonging within the world itself.

This is a subtle but profound distinction. We want children to experience that they are not separate from the world, but intimately connected to it, to nature, to other people and to the greater human family. Perhaps belonging is about more than being included or finding our place within a group. It is about developing a deep, inner feeling that we are part of something greater than ourselves, that we are valued and important and come into this world with a purpose to fulfil.

I truly believe this is one of the greatest gifts we can offer a young child: not simply the feeling that there is a place for them in our school or community, but the deep, quiet certainty that they belong here, they belong with one another, and they belong in the world. And this is exactly what I felt on Friday evening as we shared and spent time together as Early Childhood practitioners from all corners of the globe. This immense feeling of belonging, to a worldwide movement and the strength, resilience, purpose and resolve that we each have, in playing our part in protecting and enriching childhood for the children of today and tomorrow. 

If you would like to learn more about the incredible work that the IASWECE representatives oversee, please do take a look at their website, International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education

Emily Gearing-Grief    
Early Childhood Manager