Excellent head start for young learners

TAYLOR’S International School (TIS) recognises that the first five years of a child’s life is the optimal development phase of a child’s health, personality, social behaviour and learning achievement.

As part of its commitment to excellence, TIS is embracing the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC). IEYC is based on the latest research about brain development in the early years of a child’s life and incorporates international best practices, covering all curriculum areas including personal, academic and international development. The curriculum provides a child with a great learning opportunity and seamless transition into the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), a thematic, creative curriculum for primary school children.

The importance of IEYC in a child’s early years education can be understood by understanding the process of learning. It provides a strong implementation structure that captures a child’s natural curiosity as a starting point, all within an enabling environment, while also balancing child-initiated and teacher-led activities.

IEYC starts with an entry point – an exciting event that encourages children to become motivated to learn. During this stage, children learn to analyse their environment and make observations. From this, children become curious thinkers and are ready to explore the world around them. Nienke De Jong, assistant head of Key Stage 1 and Early Years, explains more about the current unit of learning, titled This is Me, “During entry point, children come to school wearing an outfit that they believe best represents themselves. They observe what their peers are wearing and ask each other questions about their outfits, teaching them to be curious and respect each other’s choices.”

Next, capturing curiosity is the process of learning that supports child-initiated enquiry. Teachers maximise learning by tailoring lessons based on a child’s developmental needs and curiosity, allowing her to learn at her own unique pace.

In the big picture, teachers discuss the overview of what the learning journey will look like. “TIS aims to create a learning community between parents, teachers and students. We encourage parents and teachers to share their child’s curiosity at home and in school,” says De Jong.

The school also encourages children to explore and express themselves within an enabled environment. This is done by allowing them to follow where their curiosity leads them while exploring their environment and express what they’ve learned through drama, speaking, reading, writing and numbers.

The philosophies of Elizabeth Jarman, the founder of the Communication Friendly Spaces Approach, are implemented in classroom design. De Jong believes in an environment that promotes a home-like feeling. “We painted the colours of our classrooms to be different so children can identify with ‘their’ classroom. In class, we create cosy corners, exploration stations and quiet spaces for children, as if they are in their own home.”

Every unit of learning ends with an exit point, which provides an opportunity for children to reflect, share and celebrate what they’ve learned in school. At TIS, excellence starts with the young and is the platform for fostering independent and confident learners.

TIS believes that every learning journey does not come to an end but is merely the beginning of something new. With the child’s best interest in mind, teachers are constantly evaluating the child’s progress and are dedicated to preparing her for the next steps in her learning journey.

TIS wants you to be a part of its family of excellence. Join it every Friday in March or during its Open Week between Mar 26 and 30 to catch a glimpse of its excellent teaching and learning methods. For more information, call 03-9200 9898 (TIS Kuala Lumpur) or 03-5879 5000 (TIS Puchong).