Beacon of Light
Just mention Taman U-Thant in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur and images of posh mid-rise condominiums and numerous foreign embassies located there will immediately pop up in our minds. The Beaconhouse Newlands Early Years (BNEY) in U-Thant, Ampang is in one of the most exclusive addresses in Kuala Lumpur City Centre, with the world-famous Petronas Twin Towers just approximately 10 minutes away. The Beaconhouse group is one of the largest school systems, with schools operating in various parts of the world, such as Malaysia, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Belgium. Presently, there are 14 schools under Beaconhouse Malaysia all within the Klang Valley, offering the KSSR and KSSM National curriculum and the Cambridge IGCSE programme. For the past 43 years, Beaconhouse has provided a top-notch quality education system from preschool to postgraduate level, imparting quality education internationally across 8 countries. Led by a charismatic school principal, Ms. Sarah Hockley explained how BNEY U-Thant Ampang emphasises on a dynamic combination of skills, knowledge, and critical thinking for children aged 1 ½ to 6 years old, all of which will serve as a cornerstone to developing lifelong learners and responsible global citizens.
Rich Educational Experience
BNEY U-Thant Ampang offers your little ones high-quality education through the integration of best international practices, the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the Beaconhouse School System Curriculum. The holistic learning approach seeks to fully address and activate all aspects of the children’s personality: intellect, emotion, imagination, and physical development, thus providing them with the foundation for BNEY’s curricula and teaching philosophy. Apart from laying the vital foundation skills in early years education guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, UK, BNEY also nurtures children’s thinking and exploratory skills through their Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach, in which children actively explore real-world problems and challenges while acquiring a deeper knowledge. Furthermore, the students here are provided with elements of the Cambridge curriculum to prepare them for international education, particularly the Cambridge International Programme. According to Ms. Sarah Hockley, BNEY perceives diversity as a core strength. As such, the school has instituted a wide range of programmes that can help students to manoeuvre through their self-development. At BNEY, cultural diversity is celebrated. Students from myriad social, cultural, and economic backgrounds—nationally and internationally—are more than welcome to participate in the high-quality learning experiences provided while harnessing their individual character and talent in the pursuit of educational success. This ties perfectly with BNEY’s Mission and Vision:
MISSION
Beaconhouse aims to provide quality education of an international standard. We aim for excellence through quality management, quality training and quality teaching, bringing benefits to our students, the community, and the wider world.
VISION
Beaconhouse values its heritage while it continues to reinvent its educational approach to meet the needs of the future. We believe that modern methods and attitudes can enable students achieve their fullest potential.
The world is ever changing, and our children are facing unprecedented revolutions. Children need to prepare for a world of such transformations and radical uncertainties so they can survive and flourish in this 21st century. Fret not, parents! BNEY U-Thant Ampang endeavours to be open to change, as well as to adapt, innovate, and keep pace with the goals that society expects. This way, students will be able to step confidently into the real and highly competitive world.
In addition, BNEY U-Thant Ampang has created the perfect play space for the children through its rich and varied learning environment that supports the children’s learning process. Its vibrant and flexible space environment makes it responsive to the interests and abilities of each child, apart from catering for their different learning capacities and styles. BNEY U-Thant Ampang is designed in ways that its spaces, furnishings, and materials are properly organised to maximise the learning opportunities and engagement of every student. The school has an effective physical environment to provide accessibility to all students, such as providing books at different reading levels, placing materials within an easy reach on a shelf, and creating ample space so a child can easily (and more comfortably) manoeuvre between the classrooms. This way, students can interact, thrive, and relish their school environments while undergoing the play-based learning for physical development and skill acquisition.
Effective Quality Curriculum
The curriculum adopted at BNEY is extremely comprehensive, where the students will be equipped with the ability to make mature and well-informed judgments through a clear understanding of vital principles and moral values. The programmes utilised here are augmented with a range of teacher-directed and child-initiated play activities, especially in the learning areas of reading, writing, and numeracy, to promote higher-order thinking skills (HOTS).
Play-based Learning
At the Beaconhouse School System, the Early Years Curricula are based upon active forms of learning, on enquiry, on discovery, and on first-hand experiences. They are framed in terms of activity and experience rather than knowledge to be acquired and facts to be stored. The subjects are referred to as areas of experience.
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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE & LITERACY
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KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD
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- Tri-Lingual Language Literacy Programme - English/Mandarin/Bahasa Malaysia
- Jolly Phonics Reading Programme - Systematic approach to reading
- Speech and Drama
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- "The World is our Classroom" Programme
- Project-based Learning (PBL). Exciting exploration and discovery of knowledge with technology.
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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT
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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
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- "Fun with Numbers" - Mathematical Proficiency Programme
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- Gymnastics
- Structured Outdoor Activities
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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
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PERSONAL & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
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- Art and Craft
- Music & Movement
- Computer Literacy
- Interactive Smartboard
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- Oracy Programme
- Group Work/Activities
- Educational Field trips
- Concert: Choral Speaking, Dances
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ENRICHMENT CLASSES
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- After-school enrichment classes are held in the school and allow children to focus on their areas of interest in a safe, secure, and friendly environment.
- Art and Craft
- Mandarin
- Tae Kwon Do
- Modern Dance
- Ballet
- Robotics Technology
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Beacon of Hope
BNEY firmly believes that success begins with the opportunities given to children to explore and discover for the creation of new knowledge and better understandings. A stimulating environment paired with a strong international curriculum will help shape children with high levels of self-esteem and self-confidence, and nurture them to grow up into globally responsible citizens.
