EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL

Our Reddford House Northcliff Early Learning School caters for children from Stage 1 to Stage 5 (1 to 5-year-olds). Our curriculum is based on the internationally recognised Reggio Emilia inspired approach. This discovery-based approach, enriched by a strong focus on phonics, reading, writing, and mathematics in the older stages, creates an opportunity for children to receive an outstanding start to their education. With a strong academic framework in place, children can move confidently on to Junior Preparatory and beyond.

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open” - Jawaharial Nehru

OUR REGGIO EMILIA INSPIRED APPROACH

Post World War 2 parents were determined to create a more hopeful and sustainable future for the children of Reggio Emilia, a city in northern Italy. The community rallied to build the very first nursery school. Many years later a group of schools in the Reggio Emilia area were voted the best schools in the world. This prestigious accolade sparked great international interest, which resulted in more countries beginning to explore and apply the Reggio Emilia teaching approach. Today the Inspired group, made up of over 25 schools across the globe, embraces this approach as we successfully integrate the philosophy into our Early Learning School.

INSPIRED LEARNING
Our Reggio Emilia inspired approach portrays a unique view of the child: each seen as beautiful, powerful, competent, creative, curious, and full of potential.

Placed at the center of the curriculum, children are encouraged to select and explore topics and activities for themselves, developing deeper engagement from the child, building independence and stimulating curiosity.

Rather than being seen as the target of instruction, children are seen as having the active role of an apprentice and researcher. A lot of our activities take the form of projects where children have opportunities to explore, observe, hypothesize, question, and discuss to clarify their understanding. Children are also viewed as social beings and focus is on the child in relation to other children, the family, the teachers, and the community rather than on each child in isolation.

TEACHERS & PARENTS
Early Learning School teachers are handpicked and rigorously trained to ensure children at all levels are enthused and provided with the tools to self-motivate their own learning journey.

Through observation, teachers become acutely aware of each child’s individual needs and latent potential as they constantly engage through attentive listening and observation of the child’s interests, concerns or ideas. Our teachers challenge the children to deepen their understanding and ultimately identify the endless possibilities to their thinking. Teachers plan rigorously, yet are flexible, for on-going projects and explorations, whilst still covering the prescribed curriculum. Materials and resources are carefully chosen to inspire inquiring minds and build skills.

CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
The children’s environment - both indoor and outdoor - is considered the ‘third teacher’.

Care and consideration are given to the layout and design of the indoor and outdoor environment. The spaces aim to stimulate our children’s imagination, creativity, exploration, discovery, engagement, and sense of wonder. Open-ended materials are frequently used, these allow for spontaneous and unguided responses.

At Reddford House Northcliff, the impressive Piazza space greets you as you enter the school. The Piazza is a central area where parents, teachers and children may come together in the morning or afternoon. The look and feel of the Piazza is determined by the children and managed by our Atelierista, an artist-specialised teacher, who ensures that children’s artwork, is beautifully displayed and often rotated.

AN EXTENSIVE OFFERING

Our co-curricular activities form an integral part of our holistic education. These activities allow children to explore, discover and develop latent skills and talents outside of the traditional learning areas. We encourage our children to enthusiastically participate in these specialised, character-building activities.

Our co-curricular sport and cultural programme is offered to the Stage 4 and 5 children. Various mini-sport and cultural activities are organised each term. Age-appropriate activities are also organised for Stage 3 and 4 children from the second term onwards. Traditional school co-curricular activities are included in the school fees. Other specialised activities are offered at an additional cost. Children are offered the convenience of all these services on the campus. At the commencement of a new term, students and parents can access the Term Calendar on the Reddford House App for the co-curricular timetable and events.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: ELS: Stage 1 - 4: Netball, Rugby, Soccer, Tennis and cricket all done during school time. ELS: Stage 5: Mini Tennis, Chess, Judo, Mini Soccer, Mini Cricket, Glee Club, Mini Art, Mini Athletics and Golf.

SCHOOL HOURS

At the commencement of term, students and parents can access the Term Calendar on the Reddford
House App featuring the extra-curricular timetable, functions, and events for the term.

STAGE MORNING BELL END OF SCHOOL DAY
1 8:00 12:45
2 8:00 12:45
3 8:00 12:45
4 8:00 13:00
5 8:00 13:00

 

ADVENTURE ZONE

Reddford House Northcliff offers students a safe, secure aftercare programme that commences at the end of the school day.

The Adventure Zone programme ends at 17:30 every day. Parents can collect children any time during the afternoon. Late collections will result in an additional fee and be recorded.

The children follow a varied programme in the afternoons with the aim of providing a caring and nurturing environment. Children receive a well-balanced meal at lunchtime as well as an afternoon snack. Every child is required to have a rest in the afternoon.

To enrol your child into the Adventure Zone programme, please contact our Administrator and complete the registration form. We also offer a Holiday Care Programme during the school holidays for parents who need to utilise these facilities.

EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL

The Reddford House uniform is worn with great pride and joy. The uniform, more commonly referred to as a multiform, is designed to serve as practical and versatile attire, which allows our children to always feel comfortable.

It is available in various forms to ensure the ideal dress code can be applied to complement any school event, activity, excursion, etc. Items from the multiform can be coordinated throughout the seasons and year to accommodate the child’s needs. In addition, children are encouraged to follow the Sun Smart Practice of wearing a hat and sunscreen during outdoor play. The policy “No hat, no play” applies at all times.

The Reddford House uniform is optional for students in Stage 3 and compulsory for Stage 4 and 5. The school uniform is only available from School and Leisure.