EARLY YEARS PROGRAMME at AIS

EARLY YEARS PROGRAMME at AIS

The Early Childhood (EC) Department implements the Early Years Programme (EYP),advocating the International Baccalaureate’s (IB) inquiry through play.

The EC Department combines the IB Curriculum with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework that sets standards for the learning, development, and care of young children. Floppy Phonics also sets the foundations for reading and writing in early years and various other disciplines through play-based learning centres.

The Early Childhood classrooms are set up as different learning centres that promote inquiry in:

• Numeracy

• Literacy

• Sensory/Science

• Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

• Art and Craft

• Dramatic Play

• Fine Motor

During their day at AIS, students enjoy their centres interspersed with performing arts, water play, outdoor play, library and French (EC2 onwards) sessions.

Just like any parent, the choice of school for a child is always a monumental decision. As a father of two young children (aged 7 and 3), it was always going to be a significant step regarding where my two boys would be spending their day learning and growing. We chose AIS because of its great culture, academic setup, infrastructure, location and above all principled and forward-looking leadership.

PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME at AIS

The Primary Department implements the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) curriculum that focuses on students becoming internationallyminded and productive global citizens. Throughout the year, the students participate in six transdisciplinary Units of Inquiry, following the themes:

• Who We Are

• Where we are in place and time

• How We express ourselves

• How the world works

• How we organise ourselves

In addition to the major core subjects, such as Language, Math, Social Studies, and Sciences, which are covered throughout the Units, our students have weekly session(s) in:

• Performing Arts (Dance, Drama and Music)

• Visual Arts

• Physical, Social and Personal Education (PSPE)

• Physical Education (PE)

• Swimming

• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

• Languages: French, Kiswahili and Family Language

Assessment:

Authentic learning cannot always be demonstrated through traditional tests or exams. Students at AIS are assessed in a variety of ways, including tests, projects, oral presentations and written reports. Assessment in IBPYP is “criterion-referenced.” This means students are scored against standards, not against each other. Emphasis will be placed on rubrics to assess student learning.

PYPX

Our students conclude their PYP journey with the PYP Exhibition in PYP6. Students use all the skills they learned throughout the PYP to solve a problem within one of the transdisciplinary themes. We focus on teaching students how to develop the skills necessary to utilise the information they gain in the later stages of their education.