Early Years
At TPIS we believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.
Our Early Years programme consists of Nursery, Kindergarten and Reception. Children may enter Nursery at 18 months old and are 3 years of age on or before 1st September when they enter Kindergarten. Similarly, children must be 4 years of age on or before 1st September to enter Reception. Our Tara Tots Playgroup welcomes children below 3 years old.
At TPIS we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework for England. This sets the standards to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe in school. Teaching and learning ensures children are ready for primary school and gives them the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.
The timetable allows for a balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities and indoor and outdoor learning and play-based discovery learning every day. Teaching in the Early Years is led by four guiding principles:
- Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
- Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
- Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time; children benefit from a strong partnership between teachers and parents or carers.
- Children develop and learn at different rates and teaching takes account of and responds to this.
The Areas of Learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage
- Communication and Language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development
The specific areas of learning:
- Literacy (English)
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
Characteristics of effective learning:
- Playing and exploring
- Active learning
- Creating and thinking critically
Children have music and PE lessons (including swimming from Reception) as well as Thai language lessons throughout the week. All instruction (except for Thai language) is in English.
The best way to get a flavour of teaching and learning in our Early Years setting is to visit the school and meet our teachers. Children are welcome to join a class for a free trial day.