Early Years
OVERVIEW | |
|---|---|
| Age Range | 3-4+ years |
| Year Groups | EY1, EY2 |
At Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong, our Early Years education follows the UK Government’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. Carefully designed for children aged 3-4(+), it offers an integrated programme of learning and care over two years, laying the foundations for future academic and personal success.
Our approach is Reggio-inspired, encouraging children to express themselves through creativity, discovery, and hands-on experiences that make learning deeply personal and meaningful.
We believe that children learn best through play, exploration, and meaningful interactions. In our Early Years classrooms, teachers nurture curiosity and independence while guiding each student’s progress with care and attention.
Meet Our Team
We recognise that parents know their children best and that they are the most important teachers in their lives. We work together with families to ensure children enjoy a rewarding and enriching learning experience, to develop a life-long love for learning at Shrewsbury
Nursery (EY1)
Students join Nursery at age 3, with the option to attend either half-day or full-day sessions. Groups are limited to a maximum of 19 students.
- Half day: 08:00-11:30
- Full day: 08:00-15:00
During this phase, students focus on developing early social skills, building relationships, and broadening their interests through engaging, play-based learning.
Reception (EY2)
At age 4, students progress to Reception. Classes also have a maximum of 19 students and run from 08:00-15:00.
The Reception year places greater emphasis on early literacy and numeracy skills, while students continue to learn through purposeful play. They also develop their ability to focus and participate more actively in collaborative activities.
Core Curriculum
The EYFS curriculum is built around seven areas of learning and development. All are important and interconnected, but three are recognised as Prime Areas because they underpin learning capacity, relationships, and well-being.
Prime Areas
- Communication and Language: Listening, speaking, and developing fluency
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Confidence, friendships, sharing, and managing feelings
- Physical Development: Coordination, movement, and control
Specific Areas
The Specific Areas help students apply and strengthen their knowledge and skills, preparing them for more formalised learning in Key Stage 1.
- Literacy: Letter sounds, emergent writing, early reading
- Mathematics: Counting, matching, sorting, recognising patterns
- Understanding the World: Exploring, comparing, developing empathy
- Expressive Arts and Design: Creativity, role play, imaginative expression
To encourage interconnected thinking, learning is arranged thematically in units lasting around six weeks. This allows Prime and Specific Areas to be woven together in meaningful, immersive ways.
Specialist Provision
From the very beginning, Shrewsbury Hong Kong students benefit from access to specialist teachers. In Early Years, this includes:
- Chinese Language: Daily lessons introducing simplified characters and immersive Putonghua learning
- Music: Three lessons per week, including whole-group choral sessions
- Performing Arts
- Physical Education: Two lessons per week, including an Aquatics session in our pool
This specialist provision enriches the thematic curriculum, ensuring a broad and balanced education while supporting our students’ multilingual abilities and creative expression.
