Laying the right foundation for academic learning
Print Edition
AT Nord Anglia International School Shanghai, Pudong, we see a difference between children who have attended pre-school and those who haven’t, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s due to the academic nature of the pre-school they have attended.
A crucial aspect of pre-school and kindergarten is the development of personal, social and emotional skills. In the Early Years Foundation Stage (0 to 5 years), this is a core area of the curriculum as it lays the foundation for future success in education. In order for young children to be prepared to be successful and understand the importance of learning academic skills, they must first learn how to interact with adults and peers in an appropriate manner; how to share and take turns; personal hygiene skills and daily routines. These are all fundamental skills that will enable children to access a more academic environment in the future.
In the Early Years, we do introduce academics to the children in order to begin building the foundations they will need in the future, but these are delivered through fun and play-based activities. Games and play can help develop children’s fine motor skills in preparation for writing; the first stages of reading, and introduce children to the concept of numbers. Speaking and listening skills are also crucial in developing children’s acquisition of language and, of course, their ability to communicate with others. The pre-school environment should always be rich with communication and language, which again is a core area of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
However, it is important to remember that every child is different and “readiness” should definitely be considered before placing a young child into a pre-school. Some children are ready to enter a pre-school environment before others and parents should consider this factor rather than focus on the need to get their child into school early in order to acquire specific academic skills.
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