Food at the Sevilla Reggio Emilia School is a language

Sevilla Reggio Emilia School has its own kitchen and serves homemade meals every day; mealtime is an opportunity for social interaction and the development of practical life skills.

The canteen is educational

Although the school cafeteria is not mandatory, most students at the Sevilla Reggio Emilia School use it. Consequently, this high attendance has led the school to modernize its kitchen with commercial-grade appliances. Furthermore, the institution places great importance on this daily experience as a vital cultural and social milestone.

Before lunchtime, the students actively prepare their environment. Specifically, they lay tablecloths on their tables and neatly set everything they need to eat, closely following the social norms of “table manners.”
Subsequently, depending on the daily logistics, students either serve themselves or take their pre-plated meals from the serving cart. Throughout this process, they consistently maintain order and wait their turn. Afterward, they sit down to enjoy their meal, and the teaching staff do exactly the same.
During lunch, the environment becomes highly interactive as students cheerfully chat about their lives. In addition, this moment strengthens their community bonds.
Finally, once everyone has finished eating, the focus shifts to shared responsibility. Each person cleans up their own area and performs the household chore assigned for that week, such as sweeping, wiping down tables, tidying up, or washing dishes. Overall, this routine beautifully reinforces their autonomy and teamwork.

What are the mealtimes and what happens afterwards?

Mealtimes are tailored to the ages and needs of each age group. So, babies aged 0–1 eat, play and sleep on demand. Children aged 1 to 3 have their meal at around 12:00. Those aged 3 to 6 have their meal at around 13:00. Children aged 6 to 12 have their meal at 14:00, and those aged 12 to 16 have theirs at either 14:00 or 15:00.

After lunch, the youngest children rest and subsequently enjoy free playtime. However, preschoolers who no longer take naps engage in free play or choose to participate in an after-school activity.

Regarding this, the school recommends a maximum of two after-school activities per week, because unstructured playtime is considered essential for their development.

Starting at age 7, students first complete some curricular work. Afterward, they join in free play or attend the specific extracurricular activities they have signed up for.

Additionally, students aged 10 and older dedicate part of their playtime to developing their personal talents. In fact, talent development becomes a fundamental aspect starting in middle school.

Furthermore, the students themselves organize these projects, actively taking on all the responsibilities that this entails.

As a result, the afternoons offer a wealth of educational, cultural, and social opportunities. Moreover, unlike what usually happens in other centers, families do not need to sign up for extra activities to enjoy this comprehensive afternoon program.

Food at the Sevilla Reggio Emilia School is a language

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