They are just playing! The Importance of an Early Years Education

Preschool Education FIVE FACTORS PARENTS SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A PRESCHOOL

This article offers guidelines to help parents choose the right preschool for their child.

Deciding to send your child to preschool can be quite daunting. Are they ready? What does ‘ready’ for preschool even mean? Are they still too young to be placed in a structured environment? Will they cope with the separation? Fret not! We have put together a list to guide you with that next step for your child.

What is Preschool?

A preschool is a learning space that provides an early childhood programme which is available for three to five-year-old children. Some schools accept toddlers as early as age one. The aim is to provide preschoolers with an experience that is relevant to their age and ability, while developing essential psychomotor, neurological, emotional, and social skills. These provide children with essential foundations that ensure readiness and confidence in the transition to primary school.

How Do You Choose the Right Preschool?

You are not alone if you feel overwhelmed as you navigate through the selection process. The quality of preschools varies considerably, so as parents, you need to be well informed.

As there are countless preschools around, where does one begin? Here are a few guidelines to help you search for the right one for your precious child.

1) It should be a safe, joyful and supportive learning environment for all children

Find a school that puts the child’s safety and wellbeing at the core of its curriculum, and a programme that emphasises the holistic development of the child. It should pay attention to the cognitive, physical, social-emotional, artistic and technological development of the child. Equally important are literacy, numeracy, and science activities that will help the children develop at their own pace.

Its structure and programme should allow children to develop their own identity and acknowledge that in these early years the degree of development varies from child to child. The focus should be on developing the learning potential of every child, while also acknowledging the need to teach them basic daily habits and personal hygiene.

In addition to the above, a bilingual language programme should be an essential part of an international preschool education. This sets the stage and helps prepare children to be effective global communicators. It is easy for children to learn a new language at this age as their brains are malleable. In a good school this translates into a robust literacy programme that allows children to continue to strengthen their native language skills, as well as develop English as a second language.

2) Technology, music and creative arts are built into the programme

Today, technology is an essential learning tool and the pandemic has certainly highlighted this need to a different level. It has also shown how confident young children can be in using tools such as iPads, tablets, and digital whiteboards during fun activities to learn and get better at various skills.

That being said, a preschool should also have a vibrant music and creative arts programme as part of the curriculum. This can open up a magical world for the children!

According to the article ‘The Impact of Music on Child Functioning’ by Hogenes et al (2014), one of the most effective means of enhancing general and psychomotor development of children is music. It helps develop their auditory and intellectual skills and enriches their emotional and imaginative world.

Developing and nurturing children’s interest in music and creative thinking will not only build their confidence and independence, but also instil respect, enthusiasm, and positive thoughts and improve communication, and physical wellbeing. These elements and more are closely linked to children developing 21st century learning skills!

3) Physical education and play are a must in the curriculum

Physical education is essential for the physical, motor, and social development of children. Various studies have shown that the development of psychomotor skills depends not only on each child’s innate skills and degree of physical and intellectual development but also on the educational environment in which the child has been educated.

A good preschool will include in its programme psychomotricity and physical activities such as swimming. These allow children to improve their motor skills such as coordination, and balance, cognitive areas (senses, memory, attention span), as well as build their self-confidence, and awareness of their classmates and relationships between them.

Play is another integral part of the curriculum. Through play and socialisation, children develop abilities that will encourage them to face challenges positively and successfully. This also gives them the opportunity to apply what they have learnt in other areas of their preschool curriculum.

4) A good preschool programme facilitates learning experiences through dialogue

A good preschool programme will facilitate learning experiences that encourage dialogue and questioning. This will help children develop logical, ethical, creative thinking and reasoning skills. This in turn will lead to the acquisition of problem-solving skills to face the challenges of the 21st century.

Apart from that, the best preschools offer opportunities for parents and teachers to get together and discuss the development and progress of their children. A preschool should acknowledge the importance of having parents actively engaged in their children’s development through effective communication and direct participation, including involvement in the various school activities.

5) The teachers are professionally qualified, also passionate, committed, caring and respectful

An ideal preschool would have teachers who not only have the right academic qualifications and experience, but are also respectful and caring towards students, colleagues, and families while embracing their similarities and differences. They should be passionate about learning and putting students and their well-being at the heart of everything they do.

A good teacher designs and facilitates learning experiences that focus on helping students get better in all aspects of their education and development. He is committed to the ongoing process of reflection and self-improvement through regular reviews of the learning that takes place in his classroom whether online or on campus.

Remember, choosing the best preschool for your child does not have to be an overwhelming task. You should go through the process aware, well-informed and ready to ask questions.

References: Hogenes, M., Oers, B. V., Diekstra, R.F. (2014). The impact of music on child functioning. The European Journal of Social & Behavioural Sciences. Retrieved from www.FutureAcademy.org.uk

This article was contributed by Tenby Schools. For more information, please visit www.tenby.edu.my

Preschool Education THEY ARE JUST PLAYING! THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EARLY YEARS EDUCATION

Naomi Jn

Charles, Head of Primary School, GEMS International School Pearl City, Penang provides more information about the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework that sets the standards that all quality Early Years providers should meet to ensure children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.

The assumption is so often made that children between the ages of three and five are simply ‘playing’ and no matter the experience, be it at home, kindergarten or school, playing with a simple toy or activity will achieve the same opportunities and outcomes.

The term ‘playing’ can be dismissed without consideration for the fundamental learning opportunities available within a young mind during this time. Given the right environment, climate and level of engagement, these early learning experiences can be key in positively stimulating a child’s interest and engagement in language, learning and investigating and provide the fundamental foundations from which all future learning and education will develop.

The Importance of Education from Ages 3-5

The finely-tuned intricate workings of an Early Years Setting in school can therefore come as quite a shock to those not immersed in its rationale and pedagogy; even more so with parents who are walking for the first time into this web of decision-making about which setting will be best for their own child.

An increasing volume of research, building on the theories of Piaget, Bowlby, Skinner and Bandura, continues to show that children’s early learning experiences at this stage have a direct link to their successes much later in life. This research has meant that over time, significant emphasis has been placed on the importance of the learning, progress and development of children between the ages of three and five, and parents are now, more than ever, paying careful attention to their child’s education at this stage.

For parents, this can feel as if a tsunami is on the horizon. That each decision they may make could in some way harm or deprive their child of opportunities to develop physically, personally, emotionally or cognitively. That before their child has embarked on his educational journey, they may have messed it up. This feeling is completely understandable. Early Years providers can show parents that this is simply not the case

As parents, you are the experts about your child. You know them best and you are best placed to take the information from the many Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) settings around you and make informed decisions about your child’s first steps into education. You are in the driving seat and you are in control.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

quality Early Years providers should meet to ensure children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children are ‘school ready’ at the end of their time in an Early Years setting, and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for future progress through school and life.

The EYFS Framework is based on four important principles that shape effective practice in Early Years settings: • Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured; • Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships; • Children learn well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents/carers; • That children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.

There are many different theories, principles and pedagogies that underpin Early Years education and the important thing is that you know what these are and which will suit your child best. There is endless research online to help you narrow down your choice. Even more importantly however is that the Early Years setting you visit or contact can explain its pedagogy, curriculum and approach, regardless of whether it follows the Development Matters guidance from England, the Australian Early Years Framework, Montessori, Steiner, Reggio Emelia or the Forest School approach to name but a few. There will always be a clear rationale upon which the setting builds its curriculum and approach to early education.

What You Need to Look for in an EYFS Setting

There are key things that you will be looking for when you visit any EYFS setting be it a school, nursery, childminder or kindergarten setting. • Do you like it here? Are the people friendly? Are the staff interested in your child as an individual? • Does the setting have a teacher trained and qualified in EYFS and trained EYFS practitioners? • Is this setting safe? Look for things like locked gates between play areas and kitchens, garden doors that won’t catch fingers, child-proof guards in the plug sockets etc. • What is the ratio of adults to children? Anything more than 1:13 may pose a safeguarding concern. • Welfare – are the needs of the children being met?

Are the children happy and engaged? Are adults interacting with the children at their level and in an appropriate way? • Activities – are the activities set up appealing, engaging and structured? Would your child like to do these things? • Learning environment – are the learning spaces within the setting inviting, well-organised and purposeful? Are there opportunities for children to engage in a range of different activities and access a range of different resources to cater for individual needs and interests?

Your Child Will Not Start Full-Time Straightaway

Once you have decided on the EYFS setting you feel confident will meet your child’s needs, do not expect your child to start full time straightaway. To build confidence and familiarity and carefully adapt attachments (remember many young children will only know a few key adults prior to education), children will usually begin coming for short settlingin sessions where they will get to know their surroundings, whilst knowing that their parent or familiar adult will always return to them.

Once the staff in the setting are confident that they know your child well and feel the child will be comfortable, they increase the duration of time the child stays. Remember each child is unique so this can happen at different rates for different children. It is advised that you do not linger or draw out dropping off time: part with your child quickly and trust the provision to support your child.

Communication Between the Home and the Centre

Communication between home and the provision is vital in establishing an effective relationship to support a child. Any quality setting will welcome information from home be it a note, a message at the door or simple text. This helps staff to know and plan for your child more effectively throughout the day.

Equally, you should expect regular communication from the setting, letting you know how your child is getting on. This can be informal notes and photos as well as more formal reports and parents’ meetings. These are nothing to worry about and are a great opportunity for you to discuss your child.

For more information, please visit www.gems.edu.my