Beaconhouse Preschool Gamuda Gardens

Nestled atop a hill surrounded by lush greenery, Beaconhouse Preschool Gamuda Gardens offers a tranquil environment where children aged between 18 months and six years old can receive high quality care and education during the most formative years of their lives. 

Opened in 2022, the purpose-built school exudes a feeling of exclusivity, with spacious grounds and top-notch facilities that are designed with young ones in mind. 

Spearheading the branch is Head of School, Thurga Lakshmanan, who brings with her a wealth of experience spanning 15 years in the education field. She stresses that the school’s focus lies not just in academics, but also other areas of development. 

“Physical, social, and emotional development…these are equally important. Our curriculum is balanced, and our goal is to have well-rounded pupils who are prepared for primary school, be it SK, SJK(C), or international school,” she says. 

A balanced mix of play and learning 

Beaconhouse’s tagline, “Play to Learn, Learn to Play'', is embodied at its Gamuda Gardens branch. The curriculum framework blends play and inquiry-based learning with structured academics, and features elements from Malaysia’s National Preschool Standard Curriculum (KSPK) and UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). 

Classes cover not just core subjects like English, Bahasa Malaysia, and Math, but also span different areas of development, such as communication, language and literacy, creativity, and more. 

Included in the curriculum are gym and music classes, and Thurga shares that they have recently introduced Agama (religious) classes for Muslim students.

Meanwhile, younger children benefit from sensorial materials, with teachers utilising tools including toys and flash cards to engage them. Montessori activities, such as water play, sand play, and pegging, are also used to develop their gross and fine motor skills. 

Small class sizes, with a ratio of one teacher per five pupils for toddlers, and one to 18 for older pupils, ensure that each child receives adequate attention and support in areas that are needed. To facilitate better learning, classrooms are bright and well-ventilated, filled with child-safe and height-appropriate furniture. 

Another thing that differentiates Beaconhouse Preschool Gamuda Gardens from other preschools is its proximity to nature. Being away from the town centre, visitors to the school are welcomed by fresh, crisp air and even the chirping of birds. 

The school’s expansive grounds are beautifully landscaped, and there are outdoor playgrounds where the children can move about and exercise. There is also an eco-garden within the school grounds, where children get to be involved in planting activities and help grow vegetables such as watermelons, chillies, and eggplants.

A pillar of support for parents and guardians 

Understanding the hectic lifestyle of working parents today, Beaconhouse Preschool Gamuda Gardens offers flexible programs to accommodate familial needs, including half-day (8.30am to 12.30pm), full day (8.30am to 6pm), and extended programmes.  

The extended program provides a lifeline for parents juggling multiple schedules, ensuring their children receive enriching experiences until 2 pm, which includes supplementary reading and writing activities beyond classroom hours. 

This also means that parents don’t have to worry about nutrition, as meals are covered for the extended and full day programmes. 

Food is prepared fresh daily in a central kitchen and sent to Beaconhouse’s schools across the Klang Valley to ensure hygiene and consistency.  The menu features balanced, nutritious meals devoid of excessive sweets, so every child gets the fuel they need for optimal growth and development. 

More than just a school: playing a part in building communities

Thurga believes in an open and collaborative approach between educators and parents as being central to supporting a child’s educational journey. 

“As a relatively new school, feedback from parents is very helpful, as it helps us with areas of improvement,” she highlights. Parents are kept updated on their child’s progress through the LittleLives app and parent-teacher meetings. 

Events such as sports days, annual concerts, and cultural celebrations foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity. 

“Gamuda Gardens is a new township, so it's very diverse, with young parents from different backgrounds. We had an open house for Chinese New Year, and we were pleasantly surprised to find that almost all the parents showed up to celebrate together. We’re happy that there is this real sense of community and neighbourhood, which translates to an excellent environment for the children to grow up in,” says Thurga. 

Thurga’s vision for Beaconhouse Preschool Gamuda Gardens is to be an educational institution that families can turn to ensure that their children are safe and supported.  “Early childhood is something that is very special, which is why we celebrate even the smallest milestones. The knowledge and skills they have learned during this time will be helpful in the future,” she concludes.