Mount Kelly International Preschool
Mount Kelly International Preschool Shop 5 on G/F & 1/F, The Austine Place 38 Kwun Chung Street, Hong Kong www.mountkelly.com.hk admissions@mountkelly.com.hk
Mount Kelly International Preschool
Founding Head Master Introduction I am very proud to be the Founding Head Master of Mount Kelly School Hong Kong and I am delighted to introduce our new Mount Kelly International Preschool. to you through our prospectus. Although we are a new school, we draw upon our proud and distinguished educational heritage from the United Kingdom. Mount Kelly is a well-known and respected British independent day and boarding School in England, which is over 140 years old. We are building on these foundations to bring to Hong Kong the first and only overseas sister school. The establishment of a new Mount Kelly School in Hong Kong brings the ethos, values, high standards and the holistic view of education direct from a first class British independent school. We look forward to welcoming you into our Preschool to discuss your child’s future and our new distinctive choice in British international education.
Gary Wright Founding Head Master
Head of Preschool Welcome Welcome to Mount Kelly International Preschool. A happy, vibrant school where our children love to learn. At Mount Kelly we understand that the foundations for successful learning, intellectual development, social development and well-being, are laid in Early Childhood. Our Preschool supports play-based, child-centred learning through the implementation of the British Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. We know that when a child is engrossed in play, whether it is free, guided, adventure or social play, they learn deeply about themselves and the world around them. When actively interacting with their environment, their peers and their teachers, children develop social and cognitive skills, become emotionally mature, and gain the self-confidence required to engage in new experiences. At Mount Kelly International Preschool there is not a choice between ‘Play’ and ‘Academics’. Play is the foundation of intellectual development and the catalyst for solid academic achievement. Excellence in early childhood education begins with extending the love and security of the home experience into our school, with the dedicated care and thoughtful direction from the highest qualified and committed teachers. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that each child’s sense of belonging, being and becoming from the age of 6 months to 5 years, is fully celebrated through the development of their individual identity and personal well-being. At Mount Kelly International Preschool, we know and endeavour to ensure that every child learns at their best, with their heart, mind and body developed in a secure and happy, educational setting. ABIGAIL CARR Head of Preschool
A Play-Based Learning Environment
Through their play, children build imagination, develop language and reading skills, strengthen their physical skills and build self-esteem, confidence and friendships. Mount Kelly International Preschool’s approach to Early Childhood Education fosters children’s discovery of their world. Through adventure, exploratory and social play, children are supported in learning how to learn, and to take the love of learning throughout their educational years and into the future.
Innovative School Design Mount Kelly International Preschool is specifically designed and built for education in the 21st Century, with excellent educational facilities for our pupils. Our bespoke physical environment nurtures enquiry and learning, whilst we ensure that we maintain a healthy environment for all our pupils. All products in our classrooms and learning spaces are made exclusively from environmentally friendly materials. Our new Preschool embodies specific design principles to create light and airy learning and creative spaces, with an abundance of natural light, alongside energy efficiency and sustainability. The design helps to enrich the curriculum for the pupils through the flexible use of space and innovative design, all provided within a secure environment for your child.
A Creative Classroom Our small class sizes give children the highest levels of attention in order for them to reach their full potential. We aim for learning to be a rewarding and stimulating experience, and encourage children to learn through exploration, investigation and discovery. Nursery (aged 3 – 4 years old) AM or PM Half Day Session and AM & Afternoon Enrichment Programme Reception (aged 4 – 5 years old) AM or PM Session Half Day Session and AM & Afternoon Enrichment Programme Enrolment for both AM or PM Sessions will be accommodated where spaces are available.
The Early Years Foundation Stage We take on the values of the British Early Years Curriculum the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and our approach to early childhood education has been formed by the 4 overarching principles of the EYFS:
A Unique Child -Resilient -Capable -Self assured
Learning in Different Ways and Different Rates
Enabling Environment
Positive Relationships -Strong -Independent
-Individual Needs -Partnership with parents
-Support to each and every child
7 Areas of Learning Prime Areas
Specific Areas Literacy Physical
-Moving & Handling -Health and Self-Care
Personal, Social and Emotional -Making Relationships -Self-Confidence & Self Awareness -Managing Feelings and Behaviour
Communication and Language
PLAYGROUP(6 months – 3 years) PRE-NUSERY (2-3 years) NURSERY (3-4 years) RECEPTION (4-5 years)
-Listening and Attention -Understanding -Speaking
-Reading -Writing
Mathematics -Number -Shape, Space and Measure
Understanding the World -People and Communities -The World -Technology
Expressive Arts and Design -Exploring & Using Media and Materials -Being Imaginative
The 7 Areas of Learning Communication and Language Communication and language development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their conďŹ dence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations. Personal, Social and Emotional Development Personal, social and emotional development involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have conďŹ dence in their own abilities. Physical Development Physical development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food. Literacy Development Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest. Mathematics Mathematics involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measure. Understanding the World Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and ďŹ nd out about people, places, technology and the environment.
Expressive Arts and Design Expressive arts and design involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through art. Chinese language Mandarin classes are blended into the structured Preschool environment. Every day, our native-speaking Chinese teacher leads a Chinese language class. In addition, the teacher works together with the class teachers to deliver Mandarin language games and cultural activities for the pupils to access in rotation. Adopting a story approach, children are provided with a meaningful context of the language and are encouraged to listen to and speak Chinese as much as possible. Storytelling and story reading, as well as various play activities create a fun, rich and anxiety-free language environment, which stimulates children’s interest and creativity. Assessment for Learning Assessment is ongoing. The everyday process of teaching and learning necessitates ongoing assessment for learning, as teachers observe and record children’s skills knowledge and attitudes throughout each school day.
A Typical School Day 8:45am-9am/1pm-1:15am
Welcome time and free choice activities (toilet)
9am-9:30am/1:15pm-1:45pm
Circle Time (stories/songs/sharing)
9:30am-10:15am/1:45pm-2:10pm
Activity Time (structured and unstructured play)
10:15am-10:25am/2:10pm-2:20pm
Toilet
10:25am-10:40am/2:20pm-2:45pm
Snack
10:40am-11am/2:45pm-3:05pm
Chinese Language Circle Time/Activities
11am-11:25pm/3:05pm-3:30pm
Active play time/PE and Games
11:25am-11:45am/3:30pm-3:40pm
Toilet
11:45am-12pm/3:40pm-4pm
Circle Time
12pm/4pm
Buses
*12pm-12:30pm
Lunch
*12:30pm-1pm
Quiet/nap time
Assemblies In the Preschool assemblies are held periodically through each term. These will provide a chance for children to share their work, celebrate their successes and to perform for their peers, teachers and families. Pastoral Care Pastoral care is concerned with the personal, social and emotional needs of children. For the young children at Mount Kelly International Preschool, pastoral care is interwoven into their daily school life. Teachers support the learning, behaviour and welfare of the children at every stage of their development, from saying goodbye to parents on the ďŹ rst day of school, to making lasting friendships through social interactions. The Head of Preschool has overall responsibility for pastoral matters at the Preschool and teachers provide day-to-day pastoral care and liaise closely with parents and other sta on a daily basis.
Working with Parents Parents are very much part of the school community. We actively encourage our parents to be involved in their child’s education and good communication between parents and the Preschool is vital to ensure that each child is a happy learner and able to achieve their academic potential. We work with parents in a number of ways and there is also a vibrant Parent Teacher Association. By appointment or sometimes informally at the start or the end of the day, your child’s teacher is available to discuss any issues that may have arisen at home or at school during the day. Each term, there is an ‘in class session’, celebrating the successes of the class, which is open for parents to attend, so that pupils may share their work and achievements with their parents. There are regular written reports and scheduled parent meetings to keep parents informed of their child’s progress. Parents are also invited to Preschool sporting events, drama and music productions throughout the year.
Afternoon Enrichment Programme Our afternoon enrichment programme is supplementary to our morning curriculum and provides children with three hours of explorative, discovery and adventure play. The enrichment programme is ideal for supporting children’s independence and allowing them to get used to a longer school day before moving on to ‘big school’. After lunch and a rest or nap time, the children will be well-refreshed to take on the challenges of our sports programmes, join social activities with their friends, and enjoy time interacting with their teachers.