The launch of the book An Emergent Curriculum for the Early Years in Malta: Stories of Professional and Pedagogical Transformation by Dr Charmaine Bonello, Dr Anna Baldacchinoo, and Prof. Carmen Dalli, held in collaboration with the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from the public. The event, which attracted around 200 attendees, brought together educators, policymakers, researchers, students, and families in a collective reflection on the transformative potential of emergent curriculum in early years education.

What distinguished this launch was the active participation of young children, with the youngest contributors being just two years old. Their engagement on stage powerfully illustrated the book’s core message - that children are competent, active participants in their own learning.

The event provided a platform for children to share their experiences of emergent curriculum in childcare, kindergarten, and early primary settings, highlighting how child-led learning nurtures creativity, agency, and a deep sense of belonging.

The success of this event was made possible through the valuable contributions of Her Excellency, President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, whose collaboration through the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society has played a pivotal role in supporting initiatives that advocate for children’s rights and well-being.

The authors also extended their gratitude to Prof. Colin Calleja, Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Malta, and Ms Anne-Marie Grech for their presence and unwavering support.

A significant highlight of the launch was the participation of the educator protagonists featured in the book - those who have actively transformed their practice by embracing child-centred learning and emergent curriculum principles in the Maltese early years context. Their testimonies and reflections reinforced the impact of educator agency, flexible pedagogical approaches, and the realisation of children’s rights in practice.

The public response to the launch reaffirmed the relevance and urgency of this book’s message. Many attendees expressed how the event reinforced their belief in the power of emergent curriculum, with some noting that any prior doubts about its impact on children’s learning were dissipating after witnessing the children’s participation and testimonies.

At the heart of this work is the fundamental principle that ‘realising children’s rights in practice sparks transformation.’ The event itself became a living demonstration of this philosophy, as children, educators, and stakeholders came together in a shared commitment to reshaping early childhood education through a rights-based, participatory approach.

This successful launch has not only stimulated critical dialogue but has also set in motion a movement towards more inclusive, child-centred pedagogical practices in Malta’s early years sector.

For further details on An Emergent Curriculum for the Early Years in Malta, visit Routledge Publications.

• Dr Charmaine Bonello is senior lecturer in early childhood and primary education, Faculty of Education, University of Malta.
• Dr Anna Baldacchino is lecturer in early childhood and primary education, Faculty of Education, University of Malta.
• Prof. Carmen Dalli is Professor of Early Childhood Studies and Dean of Education at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.