The Infancy Programme

A carefully studied and considered programme, catering to the needs of children between the ages of eighteen months and over two years.

The child enters the environment with his parent — an adult in whom he has complete trust. There are no attempts to force an early separation: the child ventures forth to the other adult and to his peers only when he is ready. He gains skills and confidence, bolstered by the knowledge that he is not alone. As each child develops, he is encouraged to explore more around him, to reach out, to grow.

Given the right tools — optimum encouragement, appropriate assistance, space and protection — the child develops wholly and completely. Primary goals include the development of movement and of independence.

What the curriculum is for

The curriculum focuses on fostering basic trust in the child. We are committed to protecting the great inner powers children possess, and to growing these into individuals with mental and physical strength, confident of their capabilities and mindful of those around them.

When given appropriate assistance in the first few years of life, the child at three is an impressive human being. He is able to express himself perfectly; he can deal with all the practical needs of life — dressing, washing himself, eating; he can collaborate usefully in the activities of the environment; he can develop a logical pattern of thought that prompts him to question; and he has a clear awareness of all his senses.

Language in these years

It is during this stage that the faculties of language and communication develop at a very impressive rate. From not being able to make more than basic needs known to a caregiver, the child — at a rate never matched in later life — develops the ability to convey much, much more. He becomes able to articulate mood, fancy, need and urgency, with a vocabulary that is both formally presented and informally absorbed.

The child who enters a pre-school programme with this foundation is more than ready for increased challenge and stimulation.

Timings and days for each age group are listed on the admissions page.