Beaconhouse Newlands Early Years, SS2, Petaling Jaya

Nestled in a quiet Petaling Jaya neighbourhood, Beaconhouse Newlands Early Years, SS2 is a prime example of what an international early years school should be.

Located just around the corner of Jalan SS2/44, its massive campus comprises a three-storey building surrounded by expansive grounds.

The school has been thoughtfully designed to be welcoming and conducive for learning–from the lofty reception area with its beautiful, multi-coloured windows to the large classrooms that are filled with interactive exhibits and learning materials. Other facilities include a library, a dedicated S.T.E.A.M. room, and Smart TVs on each floor of the school.

Learning through play

BNEY SS2 offers a high-quality Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum for children aged 18 months to five years old and a Cambridge Primary curriculum for pupils aged six.

As part of the EYFS curriculum, learning corners in each class cover the seven areas of learning:

• Personal, social, and emotional development

• Physical development

• Communication and language

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Understanding the world

• Expressive arts and design

“Children learn best through hands-on activities, which is what EYFS provides,” says the Head of School Ms. Vivian Pereira (pictured), who has over three decades of experience in early years education, including at several international schools.

Learning outcomes prioritise readying the child for the next stage of learning through teacher-led activities, while still respecting the child’s autonomy to explore and discover their own interests.

“There are milestones for each stage of development, and our job (as teachers) is to help the children achieve them by preparing activities according to their respective levels. It is a personalised approach,” Ms. Vivian explains.

“At the same time, we want children to be happy doing what they do. We introduce new activities gently, allowing the child the freedom to engage at their own pace. If the child does not feel like doing it at a (certain) stage, we can always come back to it later,” she adds.

The curriculum for the five-year-old pupils is a blend of EYFS and the Cambridge Primary. It enables them to transition easily from the play-based EYFS to the more academic-driven Cambridge syllabus.

Even for the latter, Ms. Vivian says that it’s not all about books or learning by rote, as they still incorporate fun and engaging activities. “If we’re learning a language, we may have a roleplay session based on the book they are working on. It makes the learning process more interesting, and it’s easier for them to relate to the (book’s) content,” she says.

This approach allows children to apply their skills authentically and develop an in-depth understanding of real-world concepts, nurturing them to become flexible thinkers and self-directed learners.

Physical and extracurricular activities

Physical education is essential for growing children, which is why BNEY SS2 provides plenty of space where they can run around, play, and explore.

One of the school’s key outdoor features is its large swimming pool, which comes with a gazebo and shallow areas for younger children to paddle and splash about. Swimming is integrated into the curriculum and classes are conducted weekly by a professional coach under the watchful eyes of on-duty teachers. There are also gym classes, in addition to music and movement.

To further complement the children’s learning experience, the school offers a variety of enrichment activities, including Mandarin enrichment classes on Tuesdays and Fridays, Taekwondo on Wednesdays, and modern dance classes on Thursdays. There are also plans to introduce robotics classes.

Additionally, the school organises field trips to expose the children to their local communities and the outside world. Trips are related to the themes they learn in school: for example, the children may visit a local zoo while studying about animals, which will help to solidify their learning link.

Collective effort

It takes a village to raise a child, which is why BNEY SS2 regularly involves parents in their child’s learning journey. Ms. Vivian believes in fostering an environment where there is open communication and trust.

Aside from updating parents weekly through the LittleLives app, the school also hosts events such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, where parents are invited for fun activities with their children.

When it comes to teachers, Ms. Vivian says that the school is particular about hiring qualified staff. All teachers have a degree in early childhood education, while assistant teachers have at least a diploma. As safety is an utmost priority for the school’s pupils, teachers have undergone the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) course and are trained on the necessary child protection and safeguarding procedures.

Conclusion

While every school has its unique strengths, what sets BNEY SS2 apart is its commitment to providing quality education while maintaining a happy and healthy learning environment.

There is a natural progression from the play-based EYFS to the academic-oriented Cambridge Primary, so pupils have a balanced overall development and are well-prepared for formal schooling. Coupled with its stellar facilities and its child-centric pedagogy, the school certainly lives up to its tagline, “Nurturing and inspiring young minds to be independent global leaders.”