PS Curriculum
Welcome to Preschool
At Springdale International School, we know that preschool children learn best when they have caring and positive relationships with adults and their own peers. In addition, learning is effective when they receive carefully planned, intentional guidance and assistance in a safe environment where they can safely explore the many interesting things which surround them. Our classroom sizes are limited to maintain an ideal student to teacher ratio. Children are guided by well-educated and experienced teachers, a teaching partner and a child care assistant who are available full time.
Springdale International School provides a developmentally appropriate educational program that is based on the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) a holistic learning experience that integrates socio-emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Teachers maintain appropriate expectations and provide each child with the right mix of challenge, support, sensitivity, and stimulation. We recognize all students are unique with varying skill levels, learning styles, and special talents, which develop at varying paces. Differentiation of instructional strategies according to the needs of the students commences in our Preschool and continues throughout all grades at SDIS.
Preschool Curriculum
At Springdale International School, our young Preschool learners attend classes that help to foster early independence and begin the gradual transition from home to school. Children have access to their own play area as well as a brightly designed learning center.
Learning happens both inside and outside the classroom. We ignite children’s natural curiosity through play. Personal, social, physical, language and math skills are nurtured through interaction and games. Games are based on learning and guided inquiry activities. This process helps children build a meaningful foundation of learning that is ever-evolving through a series of steps and connections.
In Preschool, children are also introduced to the library, where they are given the opportunity to choose their own books, enjoy storytime, listen to songs, and learn to identify pictures. Our innovatively designed play areas help develop their fine motor skills (drawing, painting and cutting). An important part of the child’s daily routine includes physical play (running, jumping, balancing, easy and gentle climbing) designed to cultivate and enhance body strength,gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cooperation.
During this educational stage, children also learn positive social skills such as sharing, communicating, cooperating with, and showing consideration for their classmates while developing their own individuality.
International Early Years Curriculum
(IEYC)
Springdale International School welcomes and opens its doors to young learners from the ages of 2-5 in the early years program.
It is used by over 500 nurseries and early year settings, in 60 countries worldwide. The IEYC uses international best practices, holistic enquiry and play-based approaches that cover all curriculum areas including personal, social and emotional development.
Learning Principles
The IEYC is designed around eight learning principles, that we consider essential to children’s learning and development.
- The earliest years of life are important in their own right.
- Children should be supported to learn and develop at their own unique pace.
- Play is an essential aspect of all children’s learning and development.
- Learning happens when developmentally-appropriate, teacher-scaffolded and child initiated experiences harness children’s natural curiosity in an enabling environment.
- Independent and interdependent learning experiences create a context for personal development and are the foundation of international mindedness.
- Knowledge and skills development lead to an increasing sense of understanding when children are provided with opportunities to explore and express their ideas in multiple ways.
- Ongoing assessment, in the form of evaluation and reflection, is effective when it involves a learning-link with the home.
- Learning should be motivating, engaging and fun, opening up a world of wonder for children where personal interests can flourish.
Learning Strands
The IEYC is built around four Learning Strands that underpin all learning and development:
- Independence and interdependence
- Communicating
- Enquiring
- Healthy living and physical wellbeing
Each unit of learning links all four of these Learning Strands to relevant and engaging activities that can be adapted and extended to meet individual needs.
Units of Learning
There are 18 IEYC units of learning. Units currently include topics such as: To The Rescue!, This is Me, The Brilliant Bug Ball, Weather Wonders, Dinosaur Detectives, Ocean Treasure, Once Upon a Time and Animal Rescuers.
The units are based around exciting themes aimed to capture children’s natural curiosity.
Assessment
At this early stage of development, observation and interactions are the best way to make assessments, which should be continuous and should involve both the child and their parents.Learning journals provide an ideal format for capturing observations throughout a child’s learning journey. They also allow the learning and reflections to be opened up to the child and their parents. Any evaluation and reflection should be unique to the child, resulting in individually tailored next steps for their development.