Learning

“If a child is happy, secure and does not fear failure – they will learn” - Jill Long

Making the most of childhood and educating for life

Learning never stops. It starts from the day we are born and continues throughout our lives. The first few years of one’s life are recognised as being the most important for learning. Our aim is to provide an excellent grounding and the tools which children need to flourish and develop into well rounded, confident individuals.  

“A child with high self-esteem and confidence has a passport to a lifetime of sound mental health and social happiness. These children also tend to have a realistic understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, which allows and encourages them not to be afraid to try different things when exposed to new situations” – Bridget Wilmot, Head of Department

  • A sound sense of self
  • A passion for learning and a curious mind
  • An active and creative imagination
  • An understanding and respect for others differences
  • Children who can think for themselves
  • A love and acceptance of their uniqueness
  • A love of exploring and trying new things
  • A fearlessness of failure
  • Empathetic, kind, caring individuals who are respectful of others feelings.
  • Co-operation above competition
  • Self-evaluation
  • Social development
  • Emotional intelligence
  • The ability to communicate and express themselves openly

In the classroom

“Yes, kids love technology, but they also love lego, crayons, handstands, books and mud puddles. It’s all about balance”- Bridget Wilmot, Head of Department

Children learn best when they are happy, confident and their curiosity is stimulated, so we feel it is very important that learning is fun, creative, inspirational and active. To enrich the curriculum we use aspects of both Letterland and the Neuronet programmes within our usual classroom activities.

Basic screenings

During the course of the first term the children will undergo various screenings. Early intervention has been found to be very effective if needed in a young child, and whilst these are not full assessments we have found them to be most beneficial.

Technology and how we use it

Technology is very much a part of life for children today, but achieving a balance between screen time and free play, learning and activities is essential. At Kingswood, we embrace it as a means of enriching our lessons when it offers our pupils innovative ways to explore new concepts or develop skills. iPads are used in the Grade 00 and Grade R classes with carefully selected educational Apps which are used in only very controlled and monitored lessons.

Class music

Music assists in all areas of child development and helps develop skills for school readiness in helping the body and the mind work together. Exposing children to music during early development helps them develop a deep love of music and the ability to express it. This is why all Kingswood Pre-Primary classes have a weekly class music lesson run by the Music School.

Other classroom activities

  • Letterland Programme
  • Neuronet Programme
  • Puzzles and educational games
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving activities
  • A large selection of fine motor games
  • Themed discussions
  • Creative art studies
  • Show and tell
  • Baker day
  • Class music
  • Exploring movement with basic ball skills
  • Sing-a-long for all (000-Grade R)
  • Religious education lessons weekly
  • Science experiments (Grade R)