The Early Years Foundation Stage
At the Pre-k class, we provide a unique environment for the youngest children in school. Each nursery class has two teachers where pupils work in centres and groups all the time. Centres consist of literacy (storytelling), literacy (Jolly Phonics), discovery, mathematics, fine motor skills, games and creative arts.
As for Foundation 1 and 2, in each classroom, there is a main homeroom teacher and a co-teacher in addition to the class nanny to ensure that every child is being taken care of while having the opportunity to succeed academically and socially. All classrooms are spacious and are resourced with smartboards. We have a wonderful playground for children where all safety and security measures are considered and regularly maintained.
The early years programme has been designed to fit with all types of learning styles paving the way towards creating confident, creative, happy and well-informed young learners. Teaching methods used are child-centered where young learners learn by doing through well-planned and purposeful hands-on activities and collaborative work. Teaching and learning are planned according to the UK National Curriculum standards and goals. These statutory objectives are aligned with cross-curricular schemes of work that promote our children’s cognitive, personal and social development in an integrated way. Literacy objectives are achieved through the ‘Jolly Phonics’ programme where pupils learn sound recognition, blending and eventually reading. The Oxford Reading Tree programme is also implemented in the Foundation Stage where most students are expected to reach stage 4 reading.
Teachers also work on extending the children’s vocabulary and speaking skills through interactive group work, story-telling and role-play. Teaching strategies are supported by a range of high quality books and resources ordered from the UK.Pupils have access to the Computing lab where they learn about and exploredifferent aspects of technology. We are also one of few international schools inEgypt that introduces a second language (French) at this very young age. Our programme is based around the following areas of development:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Physical Development
- Communication and Language development
- Literacy Development
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design 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 confidence in their own abilities.
EYFS Pastoral Programme and Community Service
In line with our well-structured and strictly applied behavior policy, pastoral lessons and assemblies are part of our weekly and monthly plans. These lessons are implemented throughout the whole day and are based on ethical and moral standards that aim at nurturing self-esteem, confidence, tolerance, positive social interaction and caring for the environment. Community service is also practiced every term through big projects inside and outside school. We have an annual project called “Plant for a Cause” where students plant vegetables and fruits, and when reaped, they sell the crops and money collected is given out to charity. All students participate in different visits to orphanages and elderly home care as well as fund raising.
House System
House 1: Earth: Colour Green
House 2: Water: Colour Blue
House 3: Fire: Colour Red
House 4: Air: Colour White
This system creates competition, promotes good work and behaviour, encourages teamwork, provides opportunities to take on responsibilities and brings everyone in the school together.
Lower Primary
Grade 1 & Grade 2
Key assessments are marked up to the date where continuous formal and summative assessments take place, which are criterion-based – linked to what a child can or cannot yet do in a particular subject at a given time, according to evidence in written work, observed practical work and assessments. Differentiation is a key part of teaching and learning. This means that teachers plan to meet the needs of various learners, of differing abilities and levels of motivation. At times, that will mean different groups of students will be doing different work, according to their abilities. Often it takes the form of additional, more challenging work, given to pupils after they have finished their main task in class. Teachers reserve the right to decide the optimal seating arrangement in different lessons. Learning and teaching is holistic and aimed at the “whole child”. Some lessons and activities may be centred around speaking and thinking/reasoning tasks (such as a class debate session, for example), or have a different creative outcome, such as a role play, organised and planned in groups, or posters designed and produced in pairs, to illustrate a particular learning objective or topic. Traditional exercises and worksheets are also used, but not at the exclusion of other, creative teaching methods.
Pastoral Programme and Community Service
In line with our well-structured and strictly applied behaviour policy, pastoral lessons and assemblies are part of our weekly and monthly plans. These lessons are implemented throughout the whole day and are based on ethical and moral standards that aim at nurturing self-esteem, confidence, tolerance, positive social interaction and caring for the environment. Community service is also practiced every term through big projects inside and outside school. We have an annual project called “Plant for a Cause” where students plant vegetables and fruits, and when reaped, they sell the crops and money collected is given out to charity. All students participate in different visits to orphanages and elderly homecare as well as fund raising.
House System
This system is a traditional feature of schools in the English-speaking world, particularly in Commonwealth countries, originating in England. The school is divided into subunits called ‘Houses’ and each student/ class is allocated to one House. We have 4 Houses in Kipling represented by:
House 1: Earth: Colour Green
House 2: Water: Colour Blue
House 3: Fire: Colour Red
House 4: Air: Colour White
This system creates competition, promotes good work and behaviour, encourages teamwork, provides opportunities to take on responsibilities and brings everyone in the school together.