Sunny Steps Preschool, Sunway Geo, Bandar Sunway

Sunny Steps Preschool, Sunway Geo, Bandar Sunway stays true to its name, providing a fun and cheerful environment where children can take the crucial first steps in their education.

Located within Sunway Geo Avenue, this registered kindergarten features a welcoming and beautifully designed learning space for children aged four to six.

The curriculum is well-rounded too, blending elements from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) as well as the local National Standard Preschool Curriculum (KSPK).

The best possible start

If a balanced educational experience is what you’re looking for, then Sunny Step Preschool ticks the boxes.

“Our approach is mostly play-based, but we also allocate time for more academic work, especially for older children, to ensure they are well-prepared for mainstream schools,” says school director, Ms. Lilian.

For four-year-olds, the focus is on introducing social skills, independence, and foundational academics such as recognising alphabets, phonics, and numbers.

As children reach five, the curriculum becomes more structured and they are introduced to more formal lessons in maths, science, and the three main languages (English, Bahasa Melayu, and Mandarin).

That is not to say that it is all about reading and studying: lessons still incorporate hands-on learning, such as through fun experiments, activities, and the use of real-life objects to solidify learning concepts. In this way, lessons become relevant and engaging, ensuring that children are not only learning but are also enjoying the process.

Facilities and learning environment

Sunny Steps Preschool boasts spacious premises, including a semi-outdoor space that is protected from the elements, where there is a playground. Here, children can participate in physical activities like ball kicking, skipping, and tumbling within a secure area blanketed in artificial grass.

Stepping inside, you’ll find that classrooms are centred around an open space, which allows for flexible activities such as water play and messy play.

True to the EYFS concept, there are seven learning corners, each dedicated to a particular aspect of a child’s development. These cover communication and language; physical development, personal, social and emotional development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design.

Role-playing is an integral part of the curriculum, with dedicated corners for cooking sets and tools. A future addition includes a supermarket setup, enhancing imaginative play.

Safety and parental communication

Safety is paramount at Sunny Steps Preschool. The school features a direct drop-off point, temperature scanning, and parents can utilise an app to monitor their child’s daily check-ins and check-outs.

A specialised sick bay is available for immediate isolation of unwell children. "We want the child to learn best in the happiest and safest environment," emphasises Ms. Lilian.

Communication between parents and teachers is highly valued. "Without communication, the child doesn’t benefit," says Ms. Lilian. The school strives to bridge any gaps by highlighting issues to parents and addressing concerns, ensuring children can receive constant support both at school and at home.

Enriching children through more than books

Sunny Steps Preschool currently offers half-day and full-day programmes, with options for enrichment programmes after school. Rather than having children do homework, these programmes are designed to be well-rounded and engaging, such as S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths), fun language lessons, and non-book-based activities like music and art.

Educators with a genuine passion

Ms. Lilian is proud of her experienced team of educators, who are highly experienced and qualified. The curriculum head holds a master’s degree in educational psychology, and another teacher brings with her over three decades of teaching experience.

“Most of our teachers are very experienced, but most importantly, they understand the curriculum well, and what parents need,” says Ms. Lilian. "Most importantly, we treasure communication between parents and teachers, as we feel that the best way for the child to learn is when they are in the happiest and safest environment.”