At The Olive Tree School, in Sant Pere de Ribes, belief is simple: children are natural learners — curious, creative and eager to make sense of the world around them. But how that instinct is nurtured makes all the difference.
Parents often ask what sets The Olive Tree’s approach apart. The answer lies in something the school returns to again and again: Active Learning. It shapes everything, from the youngest children in the Early Years right through to secondary students.
In this post, headteacher Audrey Reeder shares what Active Learning really means, why it matters so profoundly for your child’s development, and how you can bring a little of its magic into your home.
At The Olive Tree we talk about Active Learning all the time.
So what is Active Learning?
What are the benefits for your child?
And how can you bring it into your home?
Active Learning is not one single method that we use in our classrooms. Rather, it’s a wide range of ways that invite your child to engage deeply with
ideas, knowledge and skills. The deeper the engagement, the more memorable and secure the learning.
The methods we use depend on your child’s age. But they all have in common an invitation to observe closely, manipulate, reflect deeply and create.
What does this look like in practice and by age?
Active learning for young children aged 3- 5
For our littlest children, we’re inspired by the child-centred philosophies of Reggio Emilia and Montessori. Here, the adult sets up provocative activities to entice a child to explore, discover and create. Learning and creativity lie not in the teacher’s words or actions, but in the child’s innate desire to manipulate, experiment, observe and use all her senses to make sense of the world; to start to form patterns of knowledge. It’s a beautiful, child-led process, where the adult observes, invites and supports. The little learner is an explorer in body and mind.
Active learning for children aged 6-10
In the primary years, our active learning still places the child at the centre. Now we invite the child to engage deeply with ideas by setting up projects and challenges where she is the protagonist. In an integrated day, she might read the mythology and legends of ancient Greece, then take them to the theatre to act out, build ancient Greek temples in 3D, create relief maps of Greece in clay, make the clothes of an ancient Greek child, reenact the battles, role play the life of a girl in ancient Athens or a boy in Sparta. All the while thinking deeply about the causes and effects of these stories and events. This high quality project work makes for hugely memorable learning because it is multi-sensory and experiential; your child is engaging both bodily and cognitively.
Active learning for secondary students aged 11-16
As your child grows into the secondary school, active learning becomes more cognitive, or based on mental processes: increasingly, it’s ideas that are manipulated and analysed. These ideas are reflected on deeply in discussion, role-play and debate on global issues, in science experiments, in pupils’ own choice of projects. Finally, the young adult is invited to create her own theories and draw her own conclusions.
The Arts are Crucial
In some systems of education, the learning for both children and teens can become ‘disembodied’, or too cerebral. At The Olive Tree however, we create a holistic day that ensures balance and wellbeing: the arts and outdoor learning are crucial in providing perspective. Regular drama, music, choir, creative writing, sports and Forest School help a child and young adult express emotion, define their identity and experience a deep sense of community.
Active Learning at Home
At home, you can adopt some of the principles of active learning if you like. The key is to be playful, experimental and bold; to be more of a child yourself!
Some ideas:
1. Open thinking
Invite your child of any age to pause and observe the world around him; a spider on a leaf or a moment in a story. Stop and engage them in open dialogue: Why do you think…? How do you think…? What if…? The key word is think. Value what your child says. Value her thought processes and adventures in thinking; never expect the ‘right’ answer but instead be charmed by her bold, imaginative ideas.
2. Multi-sensory
Celebrate your child as innate explorer and learner: dress up, pretend or time travel together, share daily stories, cook, paint, lie on the sand and talk about the shapes you see in the clouds.
Everything is new and entrancing for children and young adults, and learning is their natural state. Just give this free rein.
Find out more about The Olive Tree School, upcoming open days and their admissions process on the school’s website.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Active Learning
What is Active Learning?
Active Learning is an approach that encourages children to learn through exploration, creativity, discussion and hands-on experiences. Instead of simply memorising information, children actively engage with ideas by observing, experimenting, reflecting and creating.
Why is Active Learning important for children?
Active Learning helps children develop confidence, curiosity, critical thinking and independence. Because learning is multi-sensory and experiential, children often remember and understand concepts more deeply and meaningfully.
What does Active Learning look like at different ages?
For younger children, Active Learning may involve sensory play, storytelling and discovery-based activities inspired by Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches. In primary years, it often includes projects, role-play and creative exploration. For secondary students, learning becomes more discussion-based, analytical and reflective through debates, experiments and independent projects.
How do the arts support Active Learning?
Drama, music, creative writing, sports and outdoor learning are essential parts of a holistic education. The arts help children express emotions, build confidence, strengthen social connections and develop creativity alongside academic skills.
How can parents encourage Active Learning at home?
Parents can support Active Learning by encouraging curiosity and open-ended thinking. Simple activities like cooking together, storytelling, creative play, nature walks and asking questions such as “Why do you think that?” or “What if…?” help children engage more deeply with the world around them.
About Audrey Reeder, Founder and Headteacher at The Olive School
Audrey Reeder is the founder and headteacher of The Olive Tree School in Sant Pere de Ribes (near Sitges/Barcelona), Spain, which she established in 2010. She is a British educator (Oxford Univ. B.A. Hons & PGCE) who leads a school focused on child-centred education, combining the English National Curriculum with Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf approaches.
Read more articles about education on the MumAbroad blog
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