Frequently Asked Questions

From learning what sounds letters make to counting to 10, preschool is about discovery. And by the time your child graduates from pre-K, he or she will have learned a lot.

The entire span of lessons and content that your child will be taught during the course of a preschool education is what’s known as the preschool curriculum. Depending on the preschool you choose and the early childhood education philosophy it follows, your child may explore a wide variety of academic, social, physical, and emotional lessons.

In addition to academics and social skills, many preschools work on critical speech and motor skills.

In many settings, preschools are also able to help children complete their toilet training.

Because preschools are not governed by the standards that apply to K-12 education, individual schools and groups of schools have the freedom to teach what they please in the manner they prefer.

For example, preschools located in religious institutions may include religious education in their curriculum. Montessori preschools use specific materials and activities to encourage children in hands-on learning. Teachers may vary their educational approaches to suit the needs of individual children in their class.

While preschools don’t adhere to educational guidelines, they’re intended to prepare students for kindergarten. That means most good preschools work on key skill areas like these:

• ♦  Letters

• ♦  Numbers

• ♦  Shapes

• ♦  Colors

• ♦  Cutting

• ♦  Coloring

• ♦  Writing letters and numbers

• ♦  Sorting objects

• ♦  Drawing

• ♦  Gluing

• ♦  Sharing

• ♦  Cooperation

• ♦  Taking turns

• ♦  Transitioning from one activity to another

• ♦  Calendar, including the seasons and months of the year

• ♦  Physical activity like running, jumping, skipping, hopping on one foot, and using playground equipment and balls

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Most preschools have a set of goals and a philosophy to which each teacher must adhere. In some cases, teachers follow those general guidelines in an informal way. In many cases, however, teachers must actually complete lesson plans and rubrics for assessing student progress.

Preschool curricula take into account the length of the preschool day. Many preschools run for only a few hours a day, while others (especially in public school settings) run for much longer days. Some even run longer than a typical school day to cover all the parent’s work hours.

During any given day, preschoolers are likely to take part in:

• ♦   Specific activities, such as circle time, song time, calendar time, active play time, story time, and craft time

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• ♦   Transitional periods that exist between activities like learning how to walk in a line with peers and how to clean up  toys and supplies

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• ♦   Special activities not necessarily taught by the primary preschool teacher, but by a special art, music, library, or  physical education teacher

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• ♦   Field trips designed to enhance a lesson, such as a trip to the post office to learn about mail or a visit to the grocery  store to learn about choosing healthy foods

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• ♦   Sessions with special guest speakers who are brought in to provide more details to a lesson, such as a police officer to talk about safety or a dentist to discuss oral health

A preschool curriculum can also encompass homework given to the child to reinforce what was learned in the classroom.

While it may look like a preschooler is simply playing in the preschool classroom all day, that’s not the case. Play is so much more than a child having fun, though kids are certainly having lots of that. Especially when it involves interacting with other children, play teaches young children how to:

• ♦ Form friendships

• ♦ Take turns

• ♦ Learn how to cooperate

• ♦ Try out different ways of problem-solving

• ♦ Use their imaginations

• ♦ Think creatively

No matter which philosophy your preschool follows (Bank Street, Reggio Emilia, and HighScope are common ones), the preschool curriculum should promote learning while helping children meet the various language, social, physical, and cognitive goals. In an ideal situation, a quality preschool’s curriculum will be taught by certified teachers and be based on the most up-to-date childhood education research.

Seems like only yesterday your little one was just a twinkle in your eye–and now it’s already time to start looking for a preschool.  You have lots to consider when making this choice. From location to cost to schedule, there are many variables.

Logistics aside, one of the biggest differentiators between different schools is program type. If you’re not familiar the jargon can get confusing, so we’ve put together a primer to help you in your search.

PlayWay

The PlayWay Methodology is based on the insight that ‘Play’ is the natural instinct of children; that every child possesses the same potential at birth, and it is the appropriate educational environment that shapes the growth of the child.  There is no set or predefined PlayWay curriculum. Children learn concepts through games and play.

Montessori

The Montessori method is a developmental approach to learning, allowing the child to work on a skill at her own pace to mastery. Teachers are known as “guides” and student learning is referred to as “work.” Learning is hands-on with a focus on social and practical life skills. A lot of learning occurs through special Montessori toys/tools called manipulatives, such as puzzles and blocks. Classrooms are multi-age, with a focus on building a community of learners that support each other.

Reggio Emilia

The Reggio Emilia approach is all project-based. Students choose topics to explore with each other, emphasizing the importance of working together as a community. Students learn to observe and make inquiries about the world around them, and develop a drive for exploration and discovery. A Reggio Emilia classroom focuses on using the four senses to learn, and the teacher is more of a facilitator, allowing student questions to guide learning. The idea is that cooperative learning creates respectful and responsible citizens of the world.

Waldorf

The Waldorf approach focuses on a child’s spirit, soul, and body. Hands-on, play-based learning happens in a home-like setting with predictable routines. Teachers seek to foster an inner drive for learning and to uncover a child’s innate strengths and abilities. The Waldorf method is quite different than most for a few other reasons: It excludes any kind of media (computers, video, or any electronics), and does not involve traditional academics. Note: Children are not introduced to reading in the preschool years–this happens in the first grade in the Waldorf method.

HighScope

In a HighScope program, a student’s day consists of hands-on experiences in well-organized classrooms with consistent daily routines. There is a focus on academics, based on child development research. Teachers use a method of scaffolding, supporting students at their current level and nudging them to extend and build skills. A HighScope program uses a research-based approach called active participatory learning. A tenet of this method is the “plan-do-review” sequence. Before beginning an activity, students actively create and express a plan for what they are setting out to do, who they’ll do it with, how it will go. Once an activity is completed, they review how it went, taking ownership in the learning process.

Bank Street

The Bank Street approach is play-based, active learning through experience. This program was also developed based on child development research, with a focus on mental, social, emotional, and physical growth. Classroom materials are basic and open-ended to encourage the imagination, and the teacher is seen as a facilitator. Lessons happen through hands-on activities like puzzles, blocks, art, and dramatic play.

Many programs may not prescribe to one specific approach, or they may offer “Waldorf-inspired” curriculum. While all of these program types are distinctly different, one thing should be included in any preschool you choose: lots of opportunity for social skill development. Preschool is your child’s first real chance to become a contributing member of a community, and the emotional and social development that will follow are the building blocks for future academic success.

The housekeeping staff are given continuous training on handling children (care sessions are conducted) and in maintaining cleanliness and orderliness in the school. We ensure that no child is left alone in the school premises and the building is on CCTV surveillance. The children are accompanied at all times by a female housekeeping staff.

Our staff is selected on the basis of their educational qualifications, relevant experience, and their attitude towards learning & and learners. They have a firm belief in our stated aim.

• ♦  The teachers are trained over 3 levels annually.

• ♦  Teachers are trained on Integrated methodology of teaching.

• ♦  Mentors are identified and trained to be master trainers.

• ♦  The Mentors will be able to effectively review and guide other team members.

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The school is equipped with first aid facility and also maintains association with hospitals in nearby proximity.