IS A PRIVATE KINDERGARTEN FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, AGED TWO TO FIVE YEARS. IT HOUSES EIGHT SPACIOUS CLASSROOMS PLUS SEVERAL ADDITIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS INCLUDING A LIBRARY, CHILDREN’S KITCHEN, PHYSICAL AREA AND OUTDOOR GARDEN
ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten is an IB World School that follows the Primary Years Programme (PYP). Children, aged two to five years, attend either five morning (8.30am to 11.30am) or five afternoon (1pm to 4pm) sessions per week. There are two streams: English and Bilingual.
“At ESF Tung Chung, we believe children have a voice and can contribute to their own learning. We are committed to developing a curriculum that honours their interests and ideas and values them as competent learners,” opens Principal Allison Banbury. “As a team of exceptional teachers, we are passionate about developing learning and teaching opportunities that stimulate and challenge.
“We are inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach. This approach requires children to be seen as competent, resourceful, curious, imaginative and inventive. Teachers are seen as reflective, co-constructive practitioners, who bring out the best in every child through a personalised approach to learning and by inspiring curious minds. They ensure children have the space and time to develop their interests, passions and knowledge.”
Central to the PYP is that children are respectful of themselves, their communities, the world and others. As such, ESF Tung Chung students are encouraged to take responsibility and take action – to behave in a way that supports the wider community. “Projects, like Box of Hope, are built into the school curriculum,” says Allison. “We feel it’s important to recognise children’s need to solve problems, and fundraising helps them understand that there are people in the world who they can help.
“As a school, we are very conscious of our responsibilities towards educating children to be global citizens of the 21st century, who are confident, knowledgeable and caring,” Allison adds. “We want our students to be actively engaged and connected with others, this brings joy to learning both in the classroom and outside it.”
Getting students outdoors and interacting with their peers, while learning about the environment is a priority at ESF Tung Chung. “One teacher is Forest School-trained, and she works with the team to provide outdoor learning adventures (maths-, science- and art-based) at Bermuda Park in Tung Chung,” says Allison. “We are delighted that some of our parents have signed up to enjoy these experiences with their kids.
“At ESF Tung Chung, we truly value working in partnership with parents and carers,” Allison adds. “We seek to develop a supportive learning community in which we can all contribute to the success of our children.”
Allison is quick to assure parents that all children who move on to an ESF primary school or college will continue to build upon the foundations laid in kindergarten. “All ESF primary schools follow the PYP so we can make sure the transition is smooth for our students across all areas of the curriculum. We meet with the ESF primary schools regularly to ensure there is a smooth progression for students moving from K2 to Year 1. We also talk to the ESF teachers to prepare them to meet each child’s individual needs.”
ESF Tung Chung is launching a pre-nursery provision for two-year-olds in August with a specifically designed ESF curriculum.
For more on ESF Tung Chung International Kindergarten, call 3742 3500, email admissions@tck.edu.hk or visit www.tck.edu.hk.