Nurturing ambition

A play-based approach and practical hands-on engaging experiences ensure Early Years students the best possible start on their journey into school life at BIS Abu Dhabi

The British International School Abu Dhabi (BIS Abu Dhabi) website proclaims that its “approach to teaching and learning gets the best out of students”. This is further bolstered by the school’s ‘Be Ambitious’ policy, one that is lived and breathed by the teaching staff who ensure what students at BIS Abu Dhabi academically, socially, personally can achieve is without limits. It is an approach that begins from Early Years all the way through to Senior School and finally graduation.

What does it take, then, to execute such a worthy approach?

The short answer is dedicated and passionate teachers. If one thing is certain, BIS Abu Dhabi has no shortage of teachers who are ready to ensure students, whatever their age and capabilities, have the opportunity to excel to the best of their abilities. Emma Atkinson, Nursery Year Leader, and Rhiannan Leake, Foundation Stage 2 Leader, are two such teachers.

“We utilise a play-based approach, teaching children through practical, hands-on engaging experiences, “says Emma. “We provide lots of play-based opportunities that allow the children to apply the knowledge and the skills that they are learning. Language is our focus in everything we do and we build our curriculum around that.”

Emma goes onto explain how hands-on activities act as a springboard for instilling the confidence in children to develop their speaking abilities and vocabulary acquisition, leading to be able to have conversations and having the opportunity and skills to be able to express themselves.

As well as a practical classroom environment that is calm, communal and inviting for students, the impressive outdoor areas are also utilised in the development of students. BIS Abu Dhabi boasts dedicated areas for Early Years students, with its own playground separated from the rest of the school grounds. The school also has its own sports academy and even an indoor semiOlympic sized swimming pool.

The Early Years’ teaching staff are also ready to share advice to those parents who have children entering the Early Years section for the first time in the new academic year. Tips offered by both Emma and Rhiannan are vital in ensuring children are comfortable in their new environment and more importantly for an anxious-free school day and week.

“It’s the little things that are big things for small children, such as being able to open a water bottle and if it’s too tight to be unscrewed, having the skill and confidence to be able to ask for help. These skills can be taught throughout the summer months prior to the new school year,” says Rhiannan. “It’s about learning to say ‘please can you help me’, since children can become very emotional when they are unable to do a seemingly simple task.”

Rhiannan goes on to explain the importance of ensuring that children know that somebody - a parent or family member - will be coming back to collect the child from school at the end of the day. “Say to them ‘Daddy will pick you’, or whoever they are familiar with, which is important since children have no sense of time.”

The months leading up to going to school for the first time is a time to prepare a child for being away from parents and the home. “When popping out to the shops, rather than just leave, say goodbye to your child, in order for them to get used to the situations where parents leave them and the child is reassured their parents do return,” says Emma.

Other skills, too, can be learned, such as going to the toilet, being able to feed themselves and so on. “School also needs to be talked about positively and that going to school is exciting. It's not a case of on day one, parents show up at the school gate and the child might think, where am I?”

There are bound to be tears and often from the parents. Be rest assured, when little ones have those first-day tears, the school’s teaching staff are there ready to nurture. “We absolutely love what we do; the children are at the center of everything,” says Rhiannan. “It is our goal to make sure that each child has a wonderful experience…and we do it from the heart.”

To find out more about BIS Abu Dhabi, visit bisabudhabi.com