EARLY YEARS

We believe that every child is capable, competent and creative and our Early Years programme promotes independence and natural curiosity.

We know that learning happens best in the early years through play, exploration and inquiry. Our Playgroup and Pre-Kindergarten classrooms offer environments that are interactive, safe and fun for every child. Our teachers have developed a play-based curriculum that inspires curiosity, collaboration and enthusiasm. This is complemented by our specialist teachers who provide rich, engaging opportunities for our youngest learners to express themselves through movement, art, music, language and literacy. The Early Years learning environment is sensory-rich and visually appealing, inviting children to take the lead and drive their own exploration through the use of a range of materials.

The early years are the first building blocks of a child’s learning journey. As they begin to develop an awareness of the rituals and routines of school life, students in our Early Years programme are encouraged to express themselves through a wide range of structured and unstructured experiences. We also recognise the important role of these first few years as a stepping stone to future learning and our programme provides a solid foundation for learners that is cognitively challenging and emotionally nurturing. Each child is empowered to understand themselves and others and feel confident about their potential as a learner.

COMMUNICATING WITH CONFIDENCE

Language skills bloom in the early years, and our language-rich programme encourages every child to flourish. Early Years teachers lead their classes in English and a Mandarin-speaking co-teacher collaborates to infuse Mandarin into the programme throughout the day, as well as during dedicated Mandarin sessions. Developmentally appropriate play-based learning is initiated by students and teachers in an inquiry rich environment that fosters early language development. Every interaction with both adults and peers provides an opportunity for students to learn through language, whether listening to a read aloud, describing a piece of art they are creating or chatting to classmates during community snack. In addition to classroom libraries containing regularly updated collections of English and Mandarin books, our Primary School library offers an incredible range of books curated to spark a love of learning in every child.

Grounded in the most current research about the many ways in which children learn, our early years spaces provide captivating indoor and outdoor environments that engage all the senses. Each classroom is flexible in its design, inviting children to lead their own exploration of concepts and ideas in numerous breakout spaces and with a wide range of materials. Our outdoor playscapes offer developmentally appropriate challenges to extend children’s physical, social and cognitive learning. An organic garden, adventure playscape, mud kitchen and water features contribute to an inviting, environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing environment. In each of these spaces, children are encouraged to immerse themselves in creative physical activity and diverse sensory exploration, develop problem-solving skills as they interact with one another and learn through both quiet and active outdoor play.

INVITING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

A TIME oF DISCOVERY & JOY

With every thought, feeling and question, children develop and grow as individuals. Through our Early Years programme, students are encouraged to discover their interests and passions as learners, developing a strong sense of self and empathy for others. Learn more about how to apply to join our community here.

PREPARING LEARNERS FOR THEIR NEXT STEPS

Our Early Years programme invites students to grow and explore, and provides an opportunity for every child to begin establishing their individual learning pathway. Please visit our Primary Years page to learn more about how this programme continues to support student learning.

QUICKLINKS

EARLY YEARS

COMMUNICATING WITH CONFIDENCE

INVITING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

A TIME oF DISCOVERY & JOY

PREPARING LEARNERS FOR THEIR NEXT STEPS

Join the HKA’s Exploration Day