THE SCHOOL AIMS
AIM What to do? Awarded for...
Be curious
ENGAGEMENT
Be responsible
Be a lifelong learner
RESILIENCE
COMMUNICATION
Be optimistic
Be self aware
Be determined
Be collaborative
Be a good listener
Be compassionate
• Acquiring new skills.
• Showing respect for our peers.
• Actively taking charge of our own learning.
• Showing perseverance.
• Keeping things in perspective.
• Making time to have fun, relax and stay fit.
• Expressing ideas creatively.
• Actively listening.
• Working harmoniously with those around us.
INTEGRATION
Be respectful
Be inclusive
Be kind
THINKING
Be creative
Be a problem solver
Be reflective
LEADERSHIP
Be inspirational
Be humble
Be authentic
• Working together in a spirit of unity and companion.
• Understanding others.
• Valuing individual contributions but sharing responsibilities.
• Being creative and imaginative.
• Applying what we learn in the classroom in the outside world.
• Reflecting upon our experiences to make better choices in the future.
• Showing enthusiasm, optimism and warmth to others.
• Showing humility.
• Being authentic.
Welcome to Early Years Foundation Stage
Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage at Jerudong International School (JIS). It is essential that we provide your child with the best possible start to their education and we look forward to working with you to achieve this.
The following information will help you to become familiar with the curriculum, routines and expectations in our Early Years. If you have any questions or concerns please contact your child’s teacher.
Useful Contact Details
Head of Junior School:
Mr Paul Bannister
Deputy Head of Junior School:
Mr Richard Hallam
Assistant Head of Junior School:
Mr Stu Burrows
Kindy Year Group Coordinator:
Mrs Natalie Bannister
Reception Year Group Coordinator:
Mrs Issy MacNab
Junior School Office:
Miss Esther Tang - juniorschool.office@jis.edu.bn
Miss Nabilah Sauni
School Stationery & Uniform Shop:
Mrs Liza Sheriff - jis.shop@jis.edu.bn
Our Philosophy and Aims
At Jerudong International School we believe that every child is unique and capable. We place great emphasis on valuing the whole child and endeavour to provide a safe, positive, nurturing environment in which children feel valued, respected and have a voice.
As learners, children are supported in risk taking, and provided an environment where they feel safe to fail and can develop the characteristics of effective learning that is vital for their education. Children are encouraged to play and explore, engage in active learning and be creative and think critically.
Characteristics of Effective Learning
Playing and exploring - Engagement
Finding out and exploring
Playing with what they know
Being willing to ‘have a go’
Active Learning - Motivation
Being involved and concentrating
Keep trying
Enjoying achieving what they set out to do
Creating and Thinking Critically - Thinking
Having their own ideas
Making links
Choosing ways to do things
Our children learn in an environment which is rich in hands-on experiences building upon their interests and abilities. Environments are planned to stimulate, excite and challenge in order to create motivated, independent learners.
Our partnership, as parents and educators, is vital in your child’s development. We provide opportunities to be engaged with your child’s education and development through face-to-face daily contact, individualSeesaw * observations and weekly updates. Through these we ensure that you are fully aware of your child’s experiences and progress and are able to engage in these with your child. We welcome your feedback both verbally day to day and through your own entries on your child’s Seesaw profile in order for us to fully know and understand your child and their ever changing needs.
* Seesaw is the personal learning journal.
Our Curriculum
The Nursery (2-3 years), Kindergarten (3-4 years) and Reception (4-5 years) follow the UK Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS).
Children will learn skills, acquire knowledge and demonstrate their understanding through 3 Prime Areas and 4 Specific Areas of learning and development. These 7 areas are used to plan the learning environment.
Area of Learning and Development
PRIME AREAS
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
Communication and Language
SPECIFIC AREAS
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
Our Classrooms:
In our classrooms, children learn about teamwork, decision making, problem solving and communication, while also forging strong friendships and respecting others.
Through play, in a secure environment with adult support, children can:
• Practise and build up ideas, concepts and skills.
• Learn how to manage their own feelings and emotions and understand the need for rules
• Be encouraged to take risks and make mistakes.
• Be challenged to think creatively and imaginatively.
• Be expected to communicate and negotiate with others as they investigate or solve problems.
Ongoing monitoring of individual children’s progress is essential in the Early Years so that we can support your child’s unique needs. In addition, particular difficulties in any of the areas of learning can be identified and supported.
Literacy
Children participate in ‘whole class’ shared reading and read individually with their teacher as developmentally appropriate. Through reading, children will learn to use contextual cues as well as develop and practise skills such as comprehension.
Children continue to develop a comfortable pencil grip as they begin to learn letter formation. They begin to learn the skill of sounding out words to encode using their phonic knowledge. Children learn that writing can be used for a variety of purposes.
In Reception, children are taught phonics skills using a Synthetic Phonics approach. This is a multi-sensory, active approach which is particularly suitable for young as well as EAL children. Synthetic Phonics is a method that teaches children the alphabetic code of English. Children begin by learning the 44 letter sounds, how to blend them to read words and how to cope with the first few irregular keywords known as ‘tricky’ words.
Mathematics
The majority of our mathematical lessons do not require children to write or record. The emphasis is on practical, ‘hands on’ learning and developing an understanding of mathematical concepts and vocabulary. The children experience a variety of activities to develop their counting and number knowledge, as well as the ability to apply this knowledge in simple mathematical investigations. They experiment and explore the use of shape, measures and space using a range of resources and learn to share ideas with their peers.
Specialist Subjects
A class timetable is given out at the beginning of the academic year.
Physical Education (PE)
In Kindy and Reception, PE is taught for 2 - 3 lessons each week. We combine our PE lessons with a Perceptual Motor Programme (P.M.P) where children work through a sequence of activities to develop perception and motor skills.
The main five activities are eye-tracking, fitness, locomotion, balance and hand/eye co-ordination.
Swimming
The children have 1 swimming lesson each week with our instructors. They follow a water confidence, familiarisation and water safety programme during class time. If you require more formal or structured swimming lessons, they are available after school hours as a co-curricular activity (CCA). Swimming is part of our curriculum and, as such, all children are expected to swim at their allocated time. If a child is too sick to swim, then they should stay at home for the day. Please supply a doctor’s certificate if there is a medical reason for repeated non-swimming.
Library
The children attend Library once a week. The children build on their developing literacy awareness as well as learning ‘appropriate’ Library behaviour. Library time is an opportunity to learn about books, the printed text, how to browse and look after books and to explore a wider genre of fiction and non-fiction books. The children are guided to choose appropriate books for their developmental level of understanding but ultimately the choice of book is their own.
Parents are welcome to apply to become community members of our library, which will enable you to borrow books for adults from our Senior Library as well as extra children’s books. Please see our library staff for an application form.
Music
During Music lessons, the children make and respond to a wide range of different kinds of music. They use percussion instruments and practise listening and responding to rhythmic patterns. The children participate in singing, dancing, movement and playing activities. In Nursery, Music is taught within the classroom environment but in Kindergarten and Reception they have a specialist lesson once a week.
Assessment and Reporting
Children are assessed both formally and informally in their classes through observation of play or a planned activity. These assessments provide us with evidence to inform future planning and help us set individual targets.
Parents receive information about their children in two ways. Children all have an online Learning Journal that teachers continually add to throughout the year. This is through a programme called ‘Seesaw’ that is accessible via a website and App. Three times per year parents will also be invited into school to attend a Parent Teacher Consultation Meeting to discuss their child’s progress and future needs.
Arrival and Departures
Nursery 7.30 am - 11.30 am (11.15 am on Friday)
Kindy 7.30 am - 12.30 pm (11.20 am on Friday)
Reception 7.30 am – 2.00 pm (11.20 am on Friday)
Please be punctual at the start and finish of each session. It can be very unsettling for a child to be waiting for parents/caregivers after a session has finished. If you are detained please telephone.
When you arrive at school always take the child inside to greet their teachers and make sure that the teacher is aware of their arrival. Please do not leave your child alone in the classroom. Classrooms will not be open to children until the bell rings at 7.30 am. Children arriving after 7.30 am will be marked late. Registers are closed to class teachers at 7:40 am so any child arriving after this time will have to accompany their parents to the Junior School Office to register and collect a late slip.
If someone else is collecting your child please inform the staff. As a safety precaution we will not let your child go home with another person unless we have consent from parents.
Communication
It is important that parents have many opportunities to give feedback, ask questions, pass on positive comments or even just to drop in for a chat about the progress of their child. Please feel free to approach staff about any school related issue at morning drop off or collection time. If you feel you need a longer time to talk to the class teacher, please make an appointment after the session finishes.
Please ensure that your email address is updated and do let the teacher know if you are not receiving regular emails from us as this is crucial in keeping you updated with all that is happening in our busy school.
Teacher’s Assistants (TA) / Primary Caregivers
In Nursery and Kindergarten we have a system of Primary Caregivers which helps to ensure the flow of information between home and school. Each child is allocated a teacher’s assistant who keeps an individual eye on that child. As parents you can share information with your child’s Primary Caregiver, for example, if toileting needs change, or a child is having problems sleeping or they are very interested in a particular area of learning.
Child Health and Safety
Early Years learning environments encourage children to take risks and challenge their own limits. Whilst every effort is made to ensure a safe indoor and outdoor learning environment for all children, minor scrapes, cuts and bumps are a normal part of childhood.
School Nurses are based in the Health Centre and are contactable in case of an emergency. If you have concerns regarding the health and well-being of your child, they will be happy to answer any general questions. The Health Centre number is +673 241 100 ext. 3333.
Most of the Early Years outdoor learning areas are shaded however, children are expected to wear a hat if they are playing outdoors. Children should bring a hat to be left at school on their hat hook or in their tray. Please make sure your child’s hat is clearly named. The children are encouraged to be sun smart which includes using sunscreen, wearing a hat and drinking plenty of water.
Snack time
Children attending Nursery, Kindergarten and Reception have two supervised eating times per day. Children will be encouraged and assisted to eat and drink adequately throughout the day however, children will be empowered and, expected as the year progresses, to manage these routines independently. Class teachers plan these eating times into the daily routines to help children learn how to become more independent in this area.
Please send your child to school with a bottle of drinking water. Clear (see through) bottles are preferable so that children and teachers can monitor fluid intake more easily throughout the day. Please avoid juice and other sugary drinks.
Please send snacks in a clearly labelled snack bag, preferably one that the child can open and close by themselves, to encourage independence. To ensure safety children are supervised whilst eating however, please help to minimise possibilities of choking by cutting foods such as grapes, cherry tomatoes, etc by cutting in half (top to bottom) when preparing food. We are not a ‘nut free’ school however we discourage children from bringing nuts to school in case of either themselves or another child having an allergy to nuts. Nuts can also represent a choking hazard.
We are increasingly becoming aware of the impact that healthy eating has on children’s development. Please do not send chocolate, candies or any high sugar products in your child’s snack box. Examples of healthy snacks are fruit, crackers, cheese, dried fruit, sandwiches, sushi, noodles, rice.
Extra Information
Birthdays:
Birthdays are a very significant event for young children. We recognise this and are very happy to celebrate birthdays with a cake/healthy alternative to be shared at snack time (please check with the class teacher about allergies in class beforehand). We cannot host Birthday Parties during school time, so please refrain from sending in Party Bags or extra sweets or treats.
Class Celebrations:
• In class we celebrate significant festivals that reflect our school community. We have dress up days, special craft activities and also class parties to celebrate these occasions.
• Please let us know if there are other significant cultural or family events that you would like to share with us.
Nappies and Toilet training:
• Staff in Nursery are happy to help with toilet training. Please discuss this with your Primary Caregiver when you and your child are ready. In the meantime, please ensure you send a regular supply of nappies and wipes.
• Children who are not toilet trained must wear a swimming nappy in the school pool.
• Children must be toilet trained by the time they enter Kindergarten.
The transition to school:
• Please refer to our Starting Nursery pamphlet for ideas on how to ease the transition into school.
• New children have an information session; a formal Transition Programme; ‘Split-Entry Enrolment Period’ and a parent may stay in the learning environment with their child for up to one week to ease the transition into the classroom. These procedures will be explained at the New Parent Meeting.
• Children already enrolled at JIS, will have many opportunities to transition into their new classroom during Term 3 of the previous year.
• Parents of new children will receive information about transition once their child has completed the initial enrolment interview.
After School Care Club:
Our After School Care club is available for children in Reception upwards who are unable to be collected from school at 2:00pm. The cost of this provision is B$600 per year (or B$300 per 6 month semester). The club runs 2:00pm5:30pm, Monday - Thursday during the academic terms. Email careclub@jis. edu.bn for more information.
All children have access to our Dolphins swimming lessons that run from 2:00pm in the afternoon.
In Term 2 of Reception the children have access to a wider range of CCA’s because they can better cope with the extended day.
Canteen Wristbands:
Once children are in Reception, they have the option to get their meals from our Rainforest Canteen. The online system allows parents to pre-order food online, set spending limits and also block certain items from purchase, and top up the money on the account. Health considerations are also noted e.g. food allergies. We encourage parents to pre-order food as this is much easier for the children.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the School Uniform?
The Admissions Office or Stationery and Uniform Shop has a full list of the required school uniform. It is also on the school website www.jis.edu.bn and for current JIS Parents on the Parent Portal ‘Firefly ’. This should be worn every day. We aim to encourage independence for the children so school shoes with velcro are best.
Should I name everything?
Yes! We encourage the children to take responsibility for their own things as it helps children develop a sense of independence and achievement. To avoid confusion with snacks and also lost items of clothing, please label EVERYTHING
Can my child bring their own toys to school?
Yes your child can bring a toy to school. Some children do feel hugely comforted by having an emotional prop to bring to school or just love to have something that they feel confident to talk about with their teachers and friends. However, please select carefully. We will advise children to keep these in a safe place when not using them but we CANNOT guarantee that they won’t get misplaced or possibly broken. If it is something absolutely irreplaceable then we would advise that it stays at home.
What does my child need for swimming sessions?
Children should wear swim suits and bring along a named/labelled towel, goggles and shoes or slippers suitable to make the walk from the classroom to the swimming pool and back (please check with your child’s teacher to see if they should come to school dressed in their swimming costumes or get changed at school). We recommend young children wear a ‘sun-safe’ swim suit.
What House is my child in?
There are four Houses in the Junior School - Red, Blue, Green and Yellow. Children are allocated to a House when they are enrolled. There are several House events throughout the school year where children will be asked to wear their House colour T-shirt. These events include Athletics Day and Swimming mornings.
What are Parent Passes?
The School requests all parents to register for a Parent Pass at the Visitor Centre as soon as their child is enrolled in JIS. The Parent Pass must be worn when in the school grounds so that any visitors to the School can be easily and quickly identified. Please help the School to keep your children safe.
Where do I collect a Car Pass?
Once your child has enrolled in JIS, you may collect TWO complimentary car passes upon registration at the Visitor Centre.
How do I know what is going on in School?
Seesaw is the main method of communication from your child’s class teacher. In addition to this, you will receive occasional emails. JIS also uses social media for events in the public arena - Facebook , Instagram , X , YouTube and Flickr. Search for JISBrunei or click on the relevant links on the school website.
www.facebook.com/JISBruneiDarussalam
www.youtube.com/user/JISBrunei
www.twitter.com/JISBrunei
www.instagram.com/JISBrunei
www.flickr.com/people/JISBrunei/
The information in this Booklet is correct as at 29 August 2024. The School reserves the right to make changes where deemed necessary.
