Early Years Unit

The Early Years section of our school delivers an active, play-based curriculum that is planned according to the structure of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. It also draws upon the Foundation Stage Guidance of the Department for Education and Skills in the UK, which provides a thorough developmental framework that children can progress through individually.

Children join the Early Years Unit at the age of three and they remain in the unit until they are old enough to join Year 1 of the Elementary Section. If numbers permit and the child is independent and toilet trained, entrance to the Early Years Unit may be considered for children as young as two and a half.

Of utmost importance to us is the provision of a safe, positive, happy and interesting environment in which the children can grow in confidence, begin to solve problems and find out about their environment through first-hand experience.

The children are guided through a combination of carefully planned and prepared activities as well as free play. They are gently encouraged to explore, discover and talk about their experiences and feelings. Many of the activities are art based and provide regular opportunities to create work which is proudly taken home or displayed around the classroom or school. We value the contributions that the youngest children in school make to our environment.

Within the carefully structured situation that our classes offer, we take into consideration a child’s individual needs and interests. We encourage a certain amount of independence and autonomy and work towards the children becoming more aware of others’ feelings and needs.

We see the first years of a child’s life in school as of paramount importance for laying the foundations for their future learning and recognize that if a child feels secure, happy and stimulated at the beginning of their school life then, many potential problems could be avoided later on.

Key points of the programme offered at Nursery and Reception level:
The curriculum in this stage of education underpins all future learning by supporting, fostering, promoting and developing children’s:

Personal, social and emotional well-being: in particular by promoting an inclusive ethos and providing opportunities for each child to become a valued member of that group and community so that a strong self-image and self-esteem are promoted.
Positive attitudes and dispositions towards their learning: in particular an enthusiasm for knowledge and learning and confidence in their ability to be successful learners.
Social skills: in particular by providing opportunities that enable them to learn how to co-operate and work harmoniously alongside and with each other and to listen to each other.
Attention skills and persistence: in particular the capacity to concentrate on their own play or on group tasks.
Language and communication: with opportunities for all children to talk and communicate in a widening range of situation, to respond to adults and to each other, to practice and extend the range of vocabulary and communication skills they use and to listen carefully.
Reading and writing: with opportunities for all children to explore, enjoy, learn about and use words and text in a broad range of contexts and to experience a rich variety of books.
Mathematics: with opportunities for all children to develop their understanding of number, measurement, pattern, shapes and space by providing a broad range of context in which they can explore, enjoy, learn, practice and talk about them.
Knowledge and understanding of the world: with opportunities for all children to solve problems, make decisions, experiment, predict, plan and question in a variety of contexts and to explore and find out about their environment and people and places that have significance in their lives.
Physical development: with opportunities for all children to develop and practice their fine and gross motor skills and to increase their understanding of how their bodies work and what they need to do to be healthy and safe.
Creative development: with opportunities for all children to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of art, design and technology, music, movement, dance and imaginative and role play activities.Parents are children’s first and most enduring educators. When parents and educators work together, the result is a positive impact on the child’s development and learning. Therefore, we seek to develop an effective partnership with parents. The Early Years Section is staffed by English mother-tongue teachers, who are supported by bilingual teaching assistants. Further information is available in the Early Years Unit prospectus.