The OFS Kindergarten offers an enquiry-based program to all students in the early years. The IEYC is made up of engaging Units of Learning encompassing all curriculum areas. They are designed to support the holistic development of each child through enjoyable and playful personal, international and academic learning experiences that prepare them for the opportunities and challenges now and in the future.
Learn more about our Kindergarten
Learn more about IEYC from the International Curriculum Association website
The IEYC three Dimensions of Learning and Development — Personal, International and Academic — are central to each child's learning journey. The IEYC Dimensions are designed to complement each other, providing children with a breadth of experience and encouraging holistic approaches to learning and development. Children engaged in IEYC activities will demonstrate learning and development within and across all three Dimensions.
The Academic Dimension of learning and development has a set of four Learning Strands that the IEYC regards as developmentally appropriate for learners aged 2 to 5+ year olds. Each of the four Learning Strands describes what children will experience and learn about through contextualised activities woven into the IEYC thematic units of learning.
They are:
At OFS we seek to model, develop and use the eight Personal Learning Goals (or Personal Goals) as a teaching and learning community. The IEYC Personal Goals refer to those individual qualities and dispositions we believe children will find essential in the 21st century. They are the attributes that we want our children to develop to help them face the continually changing context of their lives. Students develop awareness of the IEYC Personal Goals within our IEYC Units of Learning.
The 8 IEYC Personal Goals are:
The IEYC is unique in defining international learning goals that help young children move towards an increasingly sophisticated national, international, global and intercultural perspective. Each IEYC Unit of Learning has embedded within it, learning-focused activities that help children gain an increasing sense of themselves, their community and the world around them, whilst developing the capacity to take action and make a difference.
The Kindergarten Language program aims to develop a child's communication skills in the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Our goal is for children to develop confidence in their abilities as effective communicators in the English language. Kindergarten children develop their speaking and listening skills during daily conversations, games and group activities. They are also exposed to a wide variety of quality literature. Children develop an awareness of the letter-sound relationship through the Jolly Phonics program and the print-rich environment enables children to recognise their own name and familiar words. Shared reading and guided reading experiences teach the children to use reading strategies as they develop the confidence to begin reading independently. There is a strong emphasis on the development of comprehension strategies. The children participate in many activities to strengthen their fine motor control are encouraged to write for authentic purposes.
The hands-on approach to Mathematics in Kindergarten allows the children to investigate and explore new concepts with manipulatives so they will become mathematical thinkers and problem-solvers. Emphasis is on developing a greater depth of understanding through hands-on experiences, investigating and exploring the mathematical manipulatives and their properties and working cooperatively with peers to solve mathematical problems through exploration. The mathematical strands introduced are Data Handling, Measurement, Shape and Space, Pattern and Function, and Number.
The International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) is made up of engaging IEYC Units of Learning encompassing all curriculum areas. They are designed to support the holistic development of each child through enjoyable and playful personal, international and academic learning experiences that prepare them for opportunities and challenges, now and in the future.
IEYC Units of Learning focus on a process of learning rather than relying solely on learning outcomes to drive a child's development. This process of learning captures children’s natural curiosity as a starting point and balances child-initiated and teacher-scaffolded provision within an enabling environment.
Art is an integral part of daily activities in the Kindergarten. The children are provided with a variety of art and craft materials and are encouraged to experiment independently.
The Cooking program teaches children to listen and follow directions as they measure and mix ingredients, learn basic cooking terms, use kitchen equipment and prepare delicious snacks.
The Music program teaches the basic elements of music in an enjoyable way. Children are exposed to many different types of music so they develop an appreciation for a variety of musical styles. The hands-on music sessions promote personal enjoyment, participation and interaction.
The ICT program introduces the children to the wonderful world of computers. This program is designed especially for our Kindergarten children and is catered specifically to their needs through exposing them to the internet, computer art and the keyboard. The aim of this program is for children to become familiar with the basic parts of a computer, to use the mouse with developing confidence and independence and to interact with a wide range of appropriate educational software.
Coding develops creativity, curiosity, persistence, critical thinking, foresight and logic. Logo's "MicroWorlds JR TM" has been chosen as the tool to develop coding skills for K2 children.
Weekly visits to the Library help develop responsibility, independence and a love for books. The world of literature comes alive as children listen to stories, interact with puppets, retell felt board stories and select a favourite book to take home.
The PE program promotes the development of gross motor skills and co-ordination through the strands of manipulation activities, locomotor skills, body management and simple games and adventure challenges.
The Swimming classes encourage children to have fun in the pool as they develop an awareness of water-safe behaviour. Children also learn how to breathe properly, submerge, glide and float on their front and back.
The Mother Tongue program at Overseas Family School aims to maintain and develop students' mother tongue within the school curriculum. Mother Tongue classes are offered in 14 different languages. Included are the four strands of Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.
Foreign Language lessons in Kindergarten are carefully planned to integrate with what the children are learning in class. From Pre-K2, the children have the option to choose Mandarin, Hindi or Intensive English. The main focus is on developing the children’s listening and speaking skills.
Through structured learning of Chess, K2 children learn to think strategically. This strategic thinking enhances student learning across all academic areas.