Infants and Toddler Program
Our Infant & Toddler program follows the renowned RIE Educaring Approach developed by Magda Gerber. This approach to early childhood programs and care for children is based around the respect for the child. Our educators are unhurried in their approach to time and slow their pace to match the individual rhythms and competencies of each child recognising and respecting the cues and gestures as the primary form of communication of preverbal children. This then sets up beautiful foundations for our Preschool aged children for the journey into school.
key principles of the RIE approach
By adhering to these principles, caregivers can create a supportive and nurturing environment that fosters infants’ development and helps them strive emotionally, cognitively, and physically.
Prep school program 3-5 years
Our Prep School Program is designed to mirror a school day during which children are given the opportunity to engage with a range of purposeful learning activities and resources that reflect a balanced combination of both the Reggio Emilia and Montessori approaches. This program is developed to cater for children’s multiple intelligences, targeting skills in various domains like Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), language and literacy, creative arts, physical health and wellbeing.
Our Literacy Program
The Pre-Lit program, short for “Pre-Literacy Program,” is a structured educational initiative designed to foster early literacy skills in young children before they formally begin reading and writing. It typically targets children between the ages of 3 to 5 years old and focuses on developing foundational literacy skills that are essential for future academic success.
Key components of Pre-Lit programs often include:
- Language Development: Activities that promote vocabulary expansion, comprehension, and oral language skills through storytelling, conversations, and language-rich experiences.
- Phonological Awareness: Exercises to develop awareness of sounds in spoken language, including rhyming, blending, segmenting, and manipulating sounds.
- Print Awareness: Introduction to print concepts such as letter recognition, understanding the purpose of written language, and learning how to handle books appropriately.
- Alphabet Knowledge: Activities to teach letter names, letter-sound correspondences, and letter formation through playful and interactive experiences.
- Emergent Writing: Opportunities for children to engage in writing activities, such as drawing, scribbling, and dictating stories, to express their thoughts and ideas using written language.
- Storybook Reading: Regular read-aloud sessions and shared reading experiences to expose children to a variety of texts, develop comprehension skills, and instil in a love for books and reading.
Combining elements from both approaches can create a rich learning environment that supports children’s holistic development and cultivates a lifelong love for learning.
- Prepared Environment: Set up a classroom with carefully chosen materials that are accessible to children and promote independent exploration.
- Freedom within Limits: Allow children to choose their activities within established guidelines, fostering independence and responsibility.
- Mixed Age Groups: Encourage interaction and learning among children of different ages, promoting collaboration and mentorship.
- Montessori Materials: Provide specialized learning materials designed to develop specific skills, such as sensorial, language, math, and practical life activities.
- Observation: Observe children closely to understand their interests and developmental needs, adapting the environment and activities accordingly.
- Project-Based Learning: Facilitate long-term, child-led projects that encourage investigation, collaboration, and expression through various mediums.
- Documentation: Document children’s learning experiences through photographs, videos, artwork, and written reflections, creating a visual narrative of their learning journey.
- Environment as the Third Teacher: Design an aesthetically pleasing environment that inspires curiosity, creativity, and exploration, with ample natural materials and open-ended resources.
- Relationships and Collaboration: Foster strong relationships between children, educators, families, and the community, valuing individual contributions and perspectives.
- Emergent Curriculum: Respond to children’s interests and inquiries, allowing the curriculum to emerge organically from their experiences and interactions.