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CIS’ Kindergarten programme is designed to stimulate imagination, creativity and self discovery in our youngest learners (aged 18 Months - 5 years). Reflecting our international context, our curriculum draws from the best early years / kindergarten curricula globally, and is delivered within the Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework. Warm and nurturing learning environments support our inquiry and play-based approach, ensuring our children develop the knowledge and skills needed for their future academic success.
An international
curriculum
| At CIS, our children’s social and emotional well-being is paramount. We nurture their natural sense of curiosity and wonder through our inquiry and play-based teaching approach. Underpinned by the PYP framework, our stimulating and creative curriculum supports each child in reaching their personal potential. Teaching instruction caters to each student’s needs, abilities, and learning styles, resulting in a community of happy, confident and engaged learners. |  |
Language of instruction
Our youngest learners in Nursery (2 years of age) enjoy a language rich environment with one fully qualified early years English speaking teacher, and two instructional assistants (one of who speaks Chinese). From Pre-Kindergarten, children have the option of our English, Chinese-English bilingual or French-English bilingual* programmes.
* From junior kindergarten only.
An international curriculum
As one of Singapore's leading private kindergartens (also referred to in some countries as preschool or the early years), we offer an engaging inquiry, play-based teaching approach grounded in research and best practice. Extensive studies show hands-on exploration solidifies concepts and understanding more concretely than rote learning.
Our Nursery programme is PYP inspired, and children learn as they engage in both teacher-guided and child-initiated exploratory, investigative and imaginative play. Our nursery curriculum focuses on developing children’s fundamental social, literacy and numeracy skills, as well as their fine and gross motor skills.
As children move into Pre-Kindergarten, they engage in topic-based learning commonly referred to as the Unit of Inquiry (UOI), and different subject areas are integrated as they explore a particular concept or topic. Students have dedicated literacy and numeracy lessons, and specialist teachers for Chinese and French. Physical education, art, music and drama are delivered by either a specialist or the homeroom teacher. Where possible, learning in these specialist areas links back to the overarching topic. Science and social studies are learnt exclusively in the context of the UOI.
Discovery
and exploration
Our Lakeside Campus located in the west of Singapore, adopts a schools-within-a-school design, creating unique communities inside the school and accommodating students aged 18 months to 18 years. Kindergarten children learn in a dedicated kindergarten wing, where classrooms are organised in grade levels and spill out into the Outdoor Discovery Centre (ODC) or learning pods. Spaces in this purpose-built new wing are designed to be age appropriate, and include a glass arts pod on level one, as well as music and arts rooms, a dance studio, a junior pool, an instructional bakery, a gross motor room and a junior library.
Outdoor Discovery Centres
Our Outdoor Discovery Centres, are purpose built spaces that are used as an extension of our indoor classrooms and support learning in ways that extend far beyond a traditional playground. Our students love everything about these centres but some of the extra special features include a play fort, sound and herb garden, mud kitchen, natural tunnel, bike track and quiet and peaceful places for reflection.
Through playing with mud, water, sand and loose objects such as sticks, stones, mesh and rope, our students engage in imaginative and creative thinking while solving problems. They learn to calculate, measure, invent, estimate, specify, analyse, hypothesise and test theories, thereby developing their thinking, communication and research skills.
CIS Outdoor Discovery Centre
Communication
and parent participation
Parents play a very important role in their child’s foundational years and we encourage our parents to take an active role in their child’s education and school life. In turn, we aim to keep parents informed about their child’s learning progress, our programmes and the latest in educational research.
Our early-years teachers are passionate about the children in their care, and work to ensure they feel safe, valued, secure and happy in both our schools. In nursery and pre-kindergarten, parents are welcome to stay for the daily settling-in activities, allowing their child to adjust to the concept of separation and school life.
Our teachers communicate with parents every Friday via My.CIS (our parent portal) and we share important information through our advisories and weekly newsletters. Coffee mornings, assemblies, parent seminars and hands-on workshops are hosted regularly, while conferences are held three times a year to discuss or showcase each child’s progress. Student learning is documented via digital portfolios, and we issue detailed reports two times a year.
Our open door policy ensures parents are always able to meet with their child’s teachers at a mutually convenient time to discuss any concerns, ideas or questions they may have.
The ONE - Jessica Hertz
