Early Years Programme (EY)Handbook 2017 - 18A practical guide for new families

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EVERYONE CONTRIBUTESEVERYONE REFLECTS

EVERYONE GROWS

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ContentsOur Philosophy 4

Commencing in the Early Years 5 Basic entry requirements Does my child need to speak English?

Opening Hours 6 Entering the Early Years Morning drop off Early pick up End of day pick up

Daily Schedule 7 Curriculum and the Primary Years Program Play Specialist teachers Technology Rest Time After School Activities Field Trips

Provision of Food 9 Snacks Lunch Special Events Birthdays

School Uniform 10 Uniform items Extra items needed

Student Storage 10

Lost Property

Illness and First Aid 11 Illness Medication First Aid

The Team 12

NB: For all other areas including, but not limited to transportation, emergency evacuation procedures and the Parent Teacher Association, please refer to the Strothoff Student Parent Handbook.

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Our Philosophy“Education begins the moment we see children as inately wise and capable beings. Only then can we play along in their world” (Vince Gowan 2018)

At Strothoff International School, we value early childhood education as the foundation for lifelong

learning and believe that play is an essential part of this process.

By creating an active, child-centered, and inquiry-based curriculum built on current research, supporting

purposeful play as the fundamental approach to learning, we aim to enhance our children‘s natural

capacities and guide them through the Primary Years of the IB program.

Purposeful play is widely recognized as the best learning practice in early education. It allows for our

children to experience and explore the world around them while fostering social responsibility and cultural

awareness. „Purposeful play is not just any play. Besides being enjoyable, it allows children to make

meaning out of their experiences. It also requires teachers to thoughtfully plan for the play experiences and

organise the environment to facilitate the child‘s play.“ (schoolbag.sg 2018)

We, the teachers, facilitate a trusting, safe, and stimulating environment where children can learn through

the playful process of their own efforts. They are continuously encouraged to make choices, take risks, and

reflect on their observations. Through child-initiated play and focused learning, each child has time and

space to develop into curious and creative thinkers; unique individuals thriving in a complex and

ever-changing world. Part of this is also taking into consideration children’s learning needs and abilities,

and to plan accordingly. We value each child.

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Commencing in the Early YearsBasic entry requirements

The early years at Strothoff International School are set up for education and play, not day-care.

To be accepted for commencement in the early years, children should be:

a minimum of three years of age

toilet trained. This means they need to be able to manage the toilet with minimal assistance

able to dress themselves fairly independently

able to eat independently, using at least a spoon

Does my child need to speak English?

Our staff are all trained and experienced in ESL - English Second Language assistance. Your child does not

need to speak English or German to attend. We also value and encourage Mother Tongue. Opportunities to

use this will be arranged through the class teacher.

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Opening HoursEntering the Early Years

In order to maximise student safety the door to the early years can only be opened with a key. If you require entry, please ring the bell once and wait patiently. Our priority is to be with the children, so we will assist you as soon as possible.

Morning drop off

You may drop your child off, anytime between 7.45 to 8.40. Please arrive by 8.40, to ensure your child does not miss any of the day’s learning.

Early Pick up

Wherever possible, please notify Mr. Özbas and the class teacher, if you need to pick your child up early. This will assist us with our planning of the day, and ensure that someone is ready to open the door.

End of day pick up

Monday to Thursday: Unless an early pick up has been arranged, the door will not be opened before 15:45, even if you ring the bell. Please respect this, as we are completing the day with our students; your children.

Friday: If you have arranged to pick your child up early, please be ready at the door for a 12.30 opening. This allows us to manage those children going home all at once, while at the same time preparing the remaining class for lunch. Constant interruptions to open the door during lunch, effects the calm atmosphere we aim to maintain at these times.

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Daily ScheduleCurriculum and the Primary Years Programme

The early years teaches within the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate. Please refer to the PYP handbook for detailed information on this.

In KG1, KG2 and pre-Primary the students study five units of inquiry throughout the year, one of which is carried on and revisited over the entire year. All curriculum areas including maths and English, are linked to units of inquiry, wherever possible. Stand alone teaching is sometimes undertaken for a particular subject, depending on need. English language instruction is one example.

Play

Play is an important and crucial part of the daily programme. Play allows the children to make sense of the world, hone their social skills and give their minds and bodies a break from routine. All classes in the early years have indoor and outdoor play scheduled into their timetable. The length varies on the age of the children.

Specialist teachers

In order to provide a diverse and specialised education, student in the early years have time with other teachers to enrich their learning experience.

In KG1 and KG2: German as a Foreign Language (GFL), sport, music

In pre-Primary: German classes are split into two groups, GFL and GMT (German Mother Tongue). They also have sport, music and swimming.

Library sessions are provided once a week with the classroom teacher.

Technology

All early years classrooms are equipped with interactive white boards, also known as smart boards. The students may be given opportunities to use this tool under teacher guidance. Ipads are also part of the programme at a 1:2 ratio.

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Rest Time

In KG1 we recognise the need for students to still have the opportunity to rest or sleep in the afternoon. Low beds and a quiet restful environment is provided for the entire KG1 year.

In KG2 the students commence the year with rest time, however we recognise that as the year progresses they need this less. By Semester two the programme changes from rest to quiet free-choice play.

In pre-Primary, the children no longer have rest time and if not engaged in specialist lessons, the students have the opportunity for free-choice play.

After School Activities or ASA’s

The early years students are fortunate to have a number of ASA choices every afternoon. Their ASA’s are usually separate to those of the PYP and include a free-choice play option. Pick up for ASA’s is at 17:00. Should you arrive before this time, you may need to wait as the staff often can not leave the students unattended to open the door.

Field Trips

Field trips in the early years are undertaken a bit differently to the PYP. In addition to the trips listed below the children will also go off campus for events like sports carnivals, forest walks, and park picnics. For all off campus activities you will receive a permission slip well in advance (usually three weeks) as well as follow up information in the weekly class bulletin.

Dreieichhörnchen: Once a month, the children go to Dreieichhörnchen which is an outdoor play space, made from all natural or recycled materials. Some small animals are also there for children to interact with. The children travel there by school bus.

Theatre: The children may go off campus once a year to view a live theatre performance.

Units of Inquiry: The children may also go on a field trip that links with their unit of inquiry. In pre-Primary the children attend at least four a year.

Sport: Once a week, each class goes on a forest walk.

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Provision of FoodSnacks

The early years students have snack time twice a day. Students need to bring healthy snack options. Sweet foods, including items with chocolate or Nutella, may be sent home. There is always a fruit basket provided by the bistro, for the children to enjoy.

Lunch

A hot meal is provided daily for all early years students, through the Bistro. The meal includes salad options, fruit for dessert and sometimes yoghurt or pudding. No pork products are ever used, and vegetarian options are always provided.

Special events

Throughout the year the early years will combine for special events such as Halloween. Parents are encouraged to bring mostly healthy snack foods to share. Notes will be sent home prior to the events, to outline what is needed. Fizzy drinks and candy are not permitted.

Birthdays

We welcome birthday celebrations in the early years and encourage families to bring in a cake. The provision of napkins and paper plates also greatly assists with clean up at the end. Whilst we allow parents to provide gift/candy bags to hand out to children, this is not necessary. Fizzy drinks and candy are not permitted. For safety reasons we are also not permitted to light a birthday candle. We do enjoy singing ‘Happy Birthday’ in several languages. Please speak to your child’s classroom teacher, to arrange a suitable date and time for the birthday celebration.

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School UniformThe school uniform policy can be found on the website and in the Student Parent Handbook. Information will also be given at the start of the school year, in a class newsletter and include classroom resources.

Uniform items

The early years is an integral part of Strothoff International School and one of the many ways we show our connection is through the wearing of a uniform. Students in the early years need to wear the complete and correct uniform at all times. Please refer to the uniform section in the school’s Student Parent Handbook for details.

Extra items needed

We understand that sometimes children have accidents or they may get more dirty than was planned, when engaged in play. To ensure your child feels comfortable, please provide a hand towel and change of clothes to use in these situations. The children also require wet weather gear such as a Matchhose and boots for their weekly forest walk. House shirts can be worn every Monday.Shoes: Students need four different types of shoes; clean inside shoes or slippers, gum boots, clean sports shoes and their daily outside shoes. Adequate storage is provided for all items.

Student storageStorage maintenance

Storage is provided for shoes, coats and bags, but varies from KG1 to pre-Primary. The storage spaces can become messy and cluttered at times. The early years staff would appreciate your assistance in helping your child to keep these clean and tidy.

Lost PropertyThere is a lost property bag to the left of the door as you exit the early years. Any unnamed or lonely items are placed in this bag for parents to check. Please check this at your convenience. We usually add our items to the whole school lost property display, two times a year. Any unclaimed and unnamed items are given away to charity.

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Illness and First AidIllnesses

Whilst we air out the classrooms and buildings as often as possible, the enclosed nature of the construction and the German climate means that germs are quickly passed on. Out of respect for the teachers and fellow students, please do not send your child to school if they are sick. Parents will be contacted if the student is showing signs of illness or appears to be in distress.

Medication

Please be aware that teachers and other staff are NOT permitted, by German law, to administer any medication or chemist based product, without a doctor’s note stating the child’s name, the dosage, times to administer and any other special requirements eg., with food.

First Aid

The early years is equipped with basic first aid. For incidences that require more than a plaster or ice, we will bring them to the school’s administration area. Parents may be contacted if deemed necessary, based on the information we have. Please refer to the Student Parent Handbook for more detailed information.

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Follow us on

For further information about the PYP Programme please contact:Iris Hall EY Coordinator i.hall@strothoff-international-school.de

What else we have to offer: Two libraries with over 20000 books

Art/ceramic studio with a wide range of media including a kiln

A gymnasium and sport field in cooperation with local sport clubs

Two music rooms equipped with over 100 instruments

Fully-equipped science laboratories

Access to a wide range of technology

Bistro with healthy and nutritional food

Tailored bus service

Huge range of after school activities

Request information or make an appointment

Strothoff International School Rhein-Main Campus Dreieich Frankfurter Str. 160-166 D-63303 Dreieich

Phone: +49 6103 80225-55 Phone: +49 6103 80225-00

info@strothoff-international-school.de www.strothoff-international-school.de

Early Years Coordinator Mrs Iris Hall

Kindergaten 1 teacher Mrs Sonja Drinovac

Kindergarten 1 assistant Ms Cristina Sula

Kindergarten 2 teacher Ms Adela Yepes

Kindergarten 2 assistant Ms Nicola Gibson

pre-Primary teacher Mrs Iris Hall

pre-Primary assistant Ms Ananya Sengupta

The Early Years Team