Age 3 to 5 YearsEarly Years

At KIS we understand the importance of giving your child the best possible foundation to their schooling. This starts with choosing the right environment to excite, nurture and challenge children so they are happy coming to school each day and where a love of learning is developed.

Our team of dedicated Early Years Foundation Stage staff work hard to provide a curriculum that is fun and relevant to the many different backgrounds of our students. All of our classrooms are well-resourced and stimulating. Each class has a dedicated role play area, reading corner, an interactive whiteboard and all classes are supported by a Teaching Assistant. The purpose built Outdoor EYFS area encourages children to continue to develop their skills in a safe, secure and nurturing environment.

In this section of the school children engage in a mixture of adult led lessons and structured play activities, which are planned around cross-curricular themes. Towards the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage children will have gained a wealth of basic skills; most will have learnt to read and write at a basic level, enabling them to make a smooth and successful transition to Key Stage One.

Learning Through Play

As a British International School we have chosen to follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework – Development Matters, as we believe it provides balance, quality and consistency in academic development, pastoral care and creativity for children aged 3 to 5. The EYFS curriculum at KIS is enhanced further by incorporating elements of world cultures and languages (Mandarin and BM), as well as children’s existing knowledge and interests.

Play based learning is essential for children’s development and therefore this is a key component of our approach to teaching at this age. In addition to these supported play sessions, students take part in short structured whole class and group lessons, led by the teacher.

WORKING TOGETHER WITH PARENTS

Parents are an integral part of the community at KIS. In the EYFS Department we operate an open door policy. Parents are actively encouraged to speak to their child’s teacher either before or after school and join their children in the EYFS Outdoor area at the start of the day to help them settle, until the start of school at 7:50am. All staff in our EYFS Department work hard to foster good relationships with their class parents.

We look forward to welcoming your child into the Early Years programme at Kinabalu International School. If you would like to know more about the EYFS Department, you are welcome to make an appointment to visit us by contacting admissions@kis.edu.my