At Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong, young children develop and learn through both a structured and free play programme that focuses on inquiry, developmental and hands-on learning. Emphasis is placed on active, play-based learning with a balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities. Research has shown that this approach develops levels of skill, knowledge, conceptual thinking and confidence that are not possible in a more formal classroom setting.
The classroom pods in the Campus.
Our educationally harnessed play programme builds on the United Kingdom’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, which sets expectations for each age and stage of a child’s developmental progress. At Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong, we cover seven interconnected EYFS areas of ‘Learning and Development’ all of which are designed to nurture a child’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, whilst allowing them to form relationships in order to thrive socially and emotionally.
There are various stations in the campus such as the sandpit, water station etc., that promote the development of fine and gross motor skills, coordination, balance and strength. It stimulate their creativity and learn the specific areas in the EYFS effortlessly.
Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong is an international setting that welcomes and celebrates diversity and acknowledges each child’s unique background. In addition, we expect a proportion of our pupils will be learning English as an additional language. Constant interaction between our dedicated, experienced teachers and our pupils will ensure all children have extensive exposure to both languages.
We believe young children’s acquisition of language is most effective, when it is taught holistically as part of an integrated curriculum rather than as a compartmentalised subject. Our dedicated English and Chinese speaking teachers use a range of activities which allow children to take a hands-on approach to building their vocabulary. Using songs and nursery rhymes allows children to link words with actions, and it exposes them to a range of sounds which are so important for later work on phonics. Our staff create an engaging and supportive learning environment in which all children flourish and gain a good standard of English and Chinese.
Teachers are carefully chosen so that each classroom will have native English speaking teachers and Mandarin speaking teachers, who will guide children with practising and consolidating their first language and then embracing the other. Mandarin Chinese language skills are delivered by native level speakers with Chinese teaching qualifications. When in the company of, or working with a teacher, then her native language must be spoken. Most children, in a matter of months, become extremely adept at seamlessly and effortlessly switching from one language to another.
