We warmly welcome you to Early Years where students begin their learning journey. Located in our spacious Monterrico campus, Early Years caters for boys and girls aged 3 to 6 years old (Foundation Stage 1 & 2, Kinder and Primary 1).
Our team of exceptional staff create an environment in which children can learn through experience whilst developing conceptual understanding and crucial skills that will take them to the next stages in their learning. We are committed to supporting each child’s social, emotional and intellectual development.
In Early Years all children are encouraged to explore, experiment, problem-solve, practise, imagine, create and play. Much emphasis is placed on developing attitudes and skills that will allow our children to flourish later on in life.
Through a play-based approach, we ensure all our young learners achieve a rounded and balanced personal development.
The four key principles based on the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS) are:
Unique Child + Positive Relationships + Enabling Environment = Learning and Development
We teach our children by ensuring challenging, playful opportunities across the prime and specific areas of learning and development, and foster the characteristics of effective learning.
It is important to us that the children feel safe and settled in their new environment. We achieve this by:
Finding out children’s interests and using these to support learning
Using visual aids for children to clearly see their timetable each day
Gradual introduction of English alongside Spanish so that all children know they will be understood
In Kinder, the children finish the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, which is fully linked to the Peruvian National Curriculum competencies and capabilities. We then take the learning forward to give the children a solid beginning on the Primary 1 curriculum. The main language for instruction is English, although in P1 we also encourage reading, writing and communicating in Spanish.
Our approach for teaching literacy is through the Talk For Writing programme which was originally developed for children learning English as an additional language and quickly gives them the confidence to write. We also use a rigorous synthetic phonics programme called Letters and Sounds which gives the children a knowledge of the building blocks of the English language to help them develop independent reading and writing skills.
Mathematics is taught through the mastery approach, which supports the children to become confident mathematical thinkers, taking them beyond learning maths as a series of procedures to remember. We aim for children to develop a deep understanding of mathematical principles and to use mathematical vocabulary effectively to explain their thought processes.
IMPACT is our skills-based curriculum where children learn skills and values that are transferable to areas of life outside of the classroom. Children work on a variety of projects which help develop their social, communication, thinking, self-management and exploration skills, while also developing the value of respect. This is explored in a variety of different ways to enable the children to understand the importance of developing respect for themselves, others and the environment.
English Immersion Programme
Total English immersion is applied from the first day of classes and after four years in this programme, our pupils are able to read, write and express themselves in English. Most of all, they enjoy doing so!
All our students have a Digital Portfolio based on the Seesaw platform, which creates a powerful learning bridge between students, teachers, and families. It allows students to show their learning, empower reflection on their learning over time and helps them create something they’re proud to share with others.
It is a great tool for teachers which allows them to understand student thinking and progress. It also helps teachers identify their strengths and areas for growth in real-time so that they can differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all the students.
Families gain a window into student’s learning, feel part of the school community and are able to celebrate their children’s progress.
Parents’ meetings are programmed throughout the year. Target setting reports are shared with parents in May and September, and full reports in July and December. We invite parents to come into the classrooms at our Open Afternoons and at our parent / teacher / student conferences where the children themselves reflect on what they have learned and set new learning targets. Additionally, parents are always welcome to request interviews with staff whenever the need arises.
