Raising Happy & Confident Young Learners

Bahrain Confidential speaks to Julie Anne Gilbert, Head of the Infant School at the British School of Bahrain about the importance of early learning and the long-term impact it has on children.

In your opinion, what are some of the long-term benefits of early learning for students?

The most important outcome of an early years education is the headstart it gives children in their social and emotional development. The positive physical and social experiences children have in an educational setting help them become emotionally mature and socially adept. A sense of satisfaction and achievement with increased independence builds inner confidence. This confidence will stand children in good stead as they move up to formal education and into adulthood.

A good early years education can have a profound effect on children’s language and ability to communicate. Studies have shown that children enrolled in good quality early education have higher levels of verbal comprehension and a wider vocabulary up to four years later.

Physical activity is also vital for children’s allround development. In an early years setting, opportunities are provided to develop core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness and agility, both inside and outdoors. Mastering a new physical skill is another way to boost self-esteem. A good early years education provides many ways to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which is linked to early literacy.

What strategies does the British School of Bahrain employ to ensure children receive a solid foundation in the early years?

Our priority is to ensure that a child feels safe and secure in their environment from the start. Each teacher knows each little individual in their care. Once we know a child’s interests, strengths and quirks, we can provide opportunities to support social and emotional development and challenge or scaffold them where necessary.

Sufficient challenge for the most able learners is just as important as sufficient scaffolding for those who need it. For the youngest learners, the parent/ teacher relationship is also extremely important, as parental insight is invaluable. Open communication and positive reinforcement from all adults, every step of the way are powerful tools.

We do all we can to make learning exciting and fun for the children. A sense of humour is vital for young children. A variety of themed days and field trips enrich learning and make it meaningful for the children.

What specific skills or knowledge areas are most critical for young learners to acquire?

The most important areas for development in the Early Years are personal, social and emotional development, communication and language and physical development. Sometimes parents can focus overly on letter and number recognition. This knowledge will come easily if the building blocks of the prime areas are in place first. It is more important that they are happy, curious, and interested in learning. Exposing children to nursery rhymes, songs and stories from an early age will help them ‘hear’ and ‘identify’ the sounds in words - a very important skill in the process of learning to read.

In your opinion, are play-based learning approaches more beneficial than traditional academic methods for younger children?

The critical factor in all learning is the child's engagement level. Are they focussed, interested, curious and developing their ability to think? Playbased, child initiated learning, where the child selects their resources or toys, means that a child is generally engaged in what they are doing.

If a child has chosen to play with model cars, the teacher will gently guide them on a line of inquiry, giving them plenty of quiet thinking time, allowing them to make mistakes. What happens if we make the ramp steeper? How can we make the car move faster? Do we need a place for them to park? How could we draw or mark the bays so that the drivers know which are their spots? There are infinite opportunities for sowing the seeds of math and science knowledge.

These memorable play experiences where a child is really allowed to ‘wallow’ in their area of interest can be invaluable.

How do you measure the effectiveness of early childhood education programs at BSB?

At the British School of Bahrain, children in the Early Years are assessed regularly through observation in their physical, social/emotional, and language development. We are fortunate to have a specialist Physical Education teacher and children very much look forward to these lessons. This documentation informs future planning and teachers then provide provocations, challenges and activities to meet the next steps in each child’s learning. Regular, open communication with parents means that all current learning can be reinforced at home and children who need support in a particular area are quickly identified so interventions can be put in place. Our curriculum is dynamic and adapted to children’s current interests and needs. Of course, the proof is in the pudding! We invite you to visit the school campus in Hamala to meet some of our happy, confident and much-loved young learners. n

Flying Spur Hybrid