Curriculum

The first year of pre-primary school is crucial to development.

It is during this year that the child builds self-confidence and learns to become autonomous.

We focus our efforts on helping our children to master language and communication skills, and to develop physically, socially and emotionally.

Our teachers are specialised in early childhood education and they provide a positive and caring environment for growth.

Classes are taught in French and English from the early years and emphasis is placed on written and oral communication. The Belgian/French programme and the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (in English) provide a structural framework within which children build a routine in learning both languages from the age of 3.

At BICS we work in earnest every day to present activities through which our children gradually develop their full potential and bloom.

There is also much opportunity for amusement through music, games, sports, adventurous school outings, and an array of activities that help children socialise and interact with their classmates and adults.

In the English Reception class the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum paves the way to the Cambridge Primary Programme.

EYFS aims at building on the foundation that is well established in the Jolly Phonics syllabus. In the French Reception class, the courses adhere to the French and Belgian programmes.

Teaching at the RECEPTION stage nurtures children in the following areas:

Personal, social and emotional growth
Communication and language competence
Physical development
Numeracy
Literacy
Understanding the world around them
Expressive arts and design.
We integrate these subjects with a variety of intellectual learning and multisensory concepts, making sure our children are still learning through play as well as following instruction.

Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential.

Children develop quickly in the early years, and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.

In Year 1, the school provides a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment in which all children may grow and develop to become lifelong learners.

Our early-learning programme for French is guided by the French/Belgian programme. In English, the school uses the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum and, from Year 1, the Cambridge International programme.

Children acquire literacy skills from an early age through the constant repetition of letters and syllables in French, and through the Jolly Phonics programme in English, methods which continue into the first years of primary school. Special attention is paid to reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Much of the curriculum in Mathematics is taught through practical experience, in order to develop each child’s conceptual understanding. The Year 1 class benefits from a comprehensive syllabus that includes calculations in addition and subtraction, geometry, measurements, data management and problem-solving.

Our curriculum is further enriched through a thematic approach to teaching because it allows children to learn in a holistic way and helps teachers to meet the diverse needs of the children in the class. Regular indoor and outdoor physical activities, excursions, board games, puzzles, craftwork, music, movement and role-play all contribute to a well-balanced and enjoyable experience for our young learners.

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