by on 03/05/2018 5006
Located at the heart of the city’s prime business region and embassy enclave, The children’s house U-Thant sits on a 1.5 acre parcel of land that includes extensive outdoor space and lush greenery. Entering this natural light-filled oasis in the middle of the city, children are transported into a soothing environment that is warm, welcoming and what feels like a quaint “Cottage in the City”. The school maintains a very active and porous interface with nature, allowing children to live, learn and play within it every day.
The attention to the atmosphere of the school is clear and the spaces are beautifully appointed to provide an environment conducive to learning for infants and children aged 8 months to 6 years. Families will find the school to be a reflection of the character and diversity of the surrounding neighbourhoods. The curriculum hews to a close reading of Maria Montessori’s intentions, the attention to student-guided instruction prime among them.
The core of the approach is to provide a supportive, caring, social environment for children to build on their curiosities and interests in areas including practical life, sensorial, language, number work and culture. Close attention is given to the acquisition of skills as well as interpersonal, physical, and emotional development through the breadth of the following programme offerings:
The first steps begin with fostering a sense of belonging and comfort, while being mindful that this is a significant time of separation for the little ones and their parents. Only within a safe and comfortable environment, can children thrive and learn. Discovery through activities such as reading, sensory play, baby gym and art make amazing opportunities for children and teachers to interact and form a loving connection between them.
The programme continues the development of young children, allowing for personal experience, independence, growth and social development. Materials and activities, such as naming, counting, matching, exploring didactic materials and outdoor play, are carefully selected to fulfill the needs of each unique child.
The focus broadens developmentally, with special attention paid upon cognitive, fine and gross motor, language, creativity, social and emotional development. Activities are set out to entice children to discover and explore. Children work independently or in small groups consolidating learning across life skills, sensory play, number sequencing, letter sounds, art, culture, interaction with the environment and more.
Learning progresses to refine sensory perception, life skills, world culture, and the development of literacy and mathematical understanding. The focus is to prepare children with the skills and experience they need to succeed at school and beyond.
The school rightly makes use of the location within its programming. Children learn within spaces that are well-organized and well-lit with natural light. The context includes interfaces with the world outside featuring their atelier tree, alfresco dining area, spacious outdoor playground and water play area.
The roster of extracurricular activities includes biannual field trips and will extend to include sports and robotics, just to name a few, as per the demand of the families enrolled in the school. Additionally, the school emphasizes the importance of community partnerships. Through their annual “Sharing and Caring” event, children build empathy and develop a sense of connectedness to the communities around them.
Small class sizes enhance personal attention and the sense of belonging within all aspects of school life. Children are gently guided by a team of well-trained, highly experienced and, more importantly, passionate, gracious and courteous teachers.
Parental involvement is apparent and welcomed in a wide range of school life. Parental engagement activities are implemented to promote shared responsibility with parents for children’s early learning and development, while also providing a foundation for meaningful bonding and respectful engagement. To ensure clear communication between the school and home, parents get regular and consistent updates through their app, newsletter, communication board and face-to-face meetings. The entire programming is developed with the needs of parents foremost in mind including after school coverage and the provision of meals. Meals are age appropriate and approved by certified clinical nutritionists.
At The children’s house U-Thant, families will very happily find programmes that are values-based, reflect the surrounding community and remain true to the core of the Montessori approach. Children will find themselves confident in their ability, their relationships with others and their place in the world, providing a solid foundation for their ongoing academic life and future in the society.
