Partners in Learning - role of practitioner

On our study visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy, last year, a pedagogista raised the question, 'Who is the teacher, who is the learner in early years education?' This evoked much thought among the British visitors. In Reggio, the philosophy insists that practitioners be clear about their role. Much has been written about teaching and learning, but in the UK, early years practitioners generally have not received direct guidance about their role in the child's learning process.